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Since modern records began, Hurricane Dorian has traveled the second-shortest distance for a Category 3 storm or higher in 24 hours, according to a Colorado State hurricane researcher.
The shortest distance on record is Hurricane Betsy in 1965. Betsy traveled 12 miles over the Atlantic Ocean.
Dorian spent most of the first couple days in September 2019 moving at a speed of 1 mph or slower and pouring down on the Bahamas. Sept. 2 -3, the hurricane moved 30 miles in 30 hours.
Dorian has winds of 185 mph, making it the second-strongest storm by wind speed, since 1950, and it is the strongest hurricane to hit the Bahamas.
Now, Dorian is moving toward the coast of Florida. The Category 3 hurricane is forecasted to become “dangerously close” to the east coast of Florida late Sept. 3, early Sept. 4. Then it is predicted to move up the east coast of the United States.
Officials in the southern coastal states are holding briefings today to outline their preparation plans.
When Hurricane Dorian struck the Bahamas, it was one of the strongest storms this generation has ever seen it the Atlantic. Then the storm hovered just north of Grand Bahama Island with 120-mph winds and downpouring rain that destroyed homes, business, and killed five people.
The storm has turned and is expected to reach the coast of Florida by Wednesday, according to the National Weather Service.
The New York Times reports that it is unusual for a storm with the size and power of Dorian to hover over land. It is also dangerous. The storm could bring catastrophic damage to the Caribbean Islands. On Monday, the storm only moved 14 miles between 8 a.m. and 7 p.m.
Some residents of the Abaco Islands, which took the brunt of the storm, were able to send out videos. It was a horrific sight to watch the storm crumple cars, smash homes, and contort trees.
The waters rose quickly over Grand Bahama Island and trapped people inside their houses. Messages asking to be rescued went out on social media, but the winds and currents made it nearly impossible to reach people.
On Tuesday, winds were down to 50 mph, and there were storm surges as far as 15 feet above normal tide levels. Floods developed quickly as 30 inches of rain fell, according to the National Hurricane Center.
The News School will continue to follow this storm and report updates.
By Jeanette Smith
Sources:
CNN: Dorian has traveled only 30 miles in 30 hours
The New York Times: Hurricane Dorian Updates: Storm Pounds the Bahamas and Threatens Florida
Image Courtesy of ashokboghani;s Flickr Page – Creative Commons License