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Watch the latest update on Hurricane Dorian
02:18 - Source: CNN

What we're covering here

  • Hurricane Dorian: The storm is heading northwest in the Atlantic after drenching Puerto Rico and the British and US Virgin Islands.
  • The US mainland: The storm is expected to strengthen into a Category 4 hurricane before making landfall in Florida.
  • Where’s Dorian? You can track the storm here.
  • In the storm’s path with a weak phone connection? Get the text-only version of top stories
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Hurricane Dorian's winds strengthen to 140 mph

Hurricane Dorian continues to strengthen on Friday night, with maximum sustained winds of up to 140 mph, according to the National Hurricane Center.

Dorian is currently located 545 miles east of West Palm Beach and is moving west-northwest at 10 mph. 

The forecast calls for Dorian to reach the Florida coast near Melbourne on Tuesday, but does not bring the center of the storm over mainland Florida, instead it moves along the coast northward toward Jacksonville. 

The forecast calls for additional strengthening of up to 150 mph tomorrow. Category 5 winds are from 157 mph and higher. 

Miami Beach offering 2 sandbagging sites starting Saturday

The city of Miami Beach will be opening two sandbag distribution sites for residents Saturday and Sunday.

The locations will be at South Beach (451 Dade Boulevard) and North Beach (80 Street and Collins Avenue parking lot).

Residents going to both locations are required to show proof of residency via government-issued ID or utility bill.

Both locations will be open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday until the weather worsens or the sand supply runs out.

Orange County to open 12 evacuation centers Sunday

Orange County will open 12 emergency shelters/evacuation centers on Sunday at 8 a.m. ahead of Hurricane Dorian.

The county urged residents to not arrive before the centers open.

A list of shelters can be found at: 

http://www.ocfl.net/EmergencySafety/Shelters.aspx#.XWmVVvJKhEY

Florida governor releases update on Hurricane Dorian preparations

Gov. Ron DeSantis released an update on hurricane preparation after Dorian was upgraded to a Category 4.

  • The Florida Department of Transportation will lift tolls to affected areas once a local evacuation is ordered.
  • There are almost 28,000 linemen, tree crews and support personnel staged around Florida to help quickly restore power.
  • More than 200 generators are being delivered for pre-staging throughout Florida.
  • Uber has committed to providing rides to shelters as shelters begin opening.

More than 30 school districts have announced closures for Tuesday, September 3. The Florida Department of Education will be posting up-to-date information regarding school closures at www.fldoe.org/hurricaneinfo.

Additionally, more than 30 colleges/universities — including Florida State University and Florida A&M University — have also announced closures to their satellite, regional or main campuses.

New York Gov. Cuomo deploys team of 26 to Florida

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo released a statement Friday night about sending resources to Florida ahead of Hurricane Dorian:

“As Hurricane Dorian continues to gather strength on its path toward the US, we are preparing for every possible scenario and stand ready to assist Florida and any other community impacted by the storm.

“… We are deploying an Incident Management Team of 26 personnel to Florida, 25 of whom are state employees from a number of agencies.

“The team will depart to Tallahassee on Sunday morning and will be further deployed as needed. State police remain on standby with equipment and supplies secured and ready to be packed into trucks if they are requested.

“We will continue to monitor the situation closely and will do everything we can to help during these difficult times. To our friends and neighbors in Florida: stay safe.”

Martin County announces mandatory evacuations will begin Sunday

Martin County officials announced mandatory evacuations will begin at 10 a.m. ET Sunday.

Evacuation shelters will open Sunday at 10 a.m., according to a county press release.

The evacuation applies to residents on barrier islands, Sewall’s Point and manufactured/mobile homes as well as homes in low-lying areas.

“Residents are strongly urged to follow the evacuation order,” the release said.

The county said additional evacuations may be announced as the situation changes.

Mandatory evacuations to begin Sunday in Brevard County barrier islands

Brevard County is issuing a mandatory evacuation beginning Sunday at 8 a.m. ET for those living on barrier islands, including Kennedy Space Center south to the beaches and Merritt Island. Residents in mobile homes and in low-lying, flood-prone areas also must evacuate.

Shelter details are still being finalized, and will be announced on Sunday, September 1. 

To determine whether an address is located in an evacuation zone, visit https://bit.ly/2wKvjq0 and enter an address in the search engine in the upper left hand corner.

Dorian strengthens to a Category 4 hurricane

Dorian has strengthened to a Category 4 hurricane with maximum winds of 130 mph. This is a special update from the National Hurricane Center, based on new reports from NOAA’s hurricane hunter aircraft

Chevron evacuates non-essential staff from Gulf of Mexico ahead of Hurricane Dorian

Chevron is evacuating nonessential personnel from oil production platforms in the Gulf of Mexico, according to a statement from the company:

“Nonessential personnel are being evacuated from our Petronius and Blind Faith facilities, but production from all Chevron-operated Gulf of Mexico assets remains at normal levels. 

As part of our hurricane preparedness procedures, we have a fuel supply strategy team monitoring inventory availability by location, scheduling and staging resupply. Chevron and Texaco stations are independently owned and operated in the US Southeast region. We have been supplying as much fuel as possible in advance of the storm. 

We also proactively communicated that Chevron has a zero-tolerance policy for unlawful price gouging, which goes directly against our values as a company. While we are not able to control the pricing of individually owned and operated facilities, our branded fuel supply agreements do require that station owners and/or operators comply with all laws during a State of Emergency. 

The Chevron Pascagoula refinery in Mississippi is currently following hurricane procedures and paying close attention to the track and forecast of the storm.”

Dorian likely to become a Category 4 storm

Dorian continues to strengthen and is likely to become a Category 4 hurricane late Friday or early Saturday, according to an 8 p.m. advisory from the National Hurricane Center.

It’s currently a Category 3 storm with maximum sustained winds of 125 mph.

Dorian is likely to remain a very intense and dangerous hurricane as it moves through the Bahamas toward Florida’s east coast.

Broward County school district cancels all weekend activities

Broward County officials said its school district will cancel all weekend activities so schools can be re-purposed as shelters in case evacuations are needed. There have been no evacuations issued, but the county is reminding residents to be ready.

Martin County on Florida's eastern coast will order mandatory evacuations if Dorian stays on track

Martin County officials told reporters they plan to issue a mandatory evacuation order at 10 a.m. Sunday if Hurricane Dorian stays on track.

Martin County is on Florida’s eastern coast just south of Port St. Lucie.

Fire Services Chief Bill Schobel said that the evacuation plan depends on how the storm develops, pointing out that Hurricane Dorian has significantly changed course multiple times in the last 24 hours and so it depends on what happens in the next 72 hours.

“If we have to regroup and change the mandatory evacuation times, we’ll do that. The last thing we want to do is dislocate people unnecessarily,” Sheriff William Snyder said, “We’re going to follow God’s script. Wherever that hurricane goes, we’re going to adjust accordingly.”

President Trump to attend FEMA briefing Sunday

President Trump says he will attend a hurricane briefing Sunday at Federal Emergency Management Agency headquarters in Washington at 12:30 p.m. ET. He says that will be roughly 24 hours before storm is expected to hit, and they will likely make decisions about whether to evacuate parts of Florida then. 

He said he spoke to Sens. Rick Scott, Marco Rubio and other officials throughout the day. 

People arrested for crimes of opportunity will be held without bail, St. Lucie County officials say

St. Lucie County officials warned residents to watch out for crimes of opportunity as the hurricane approaches. Officials said that anyone who is arrested for a crime of opportunity during the storm will be held without bail.

Officials warned residents to shelter in place in their homes, if they can. The county said that they will have shelters available but want to make sure that those that evacuate their homes get access to the shelters. Currently, there are no evacuations in the county, but officials are warning residents to be ready in case an evacuation is ordered.

Florida Power & Light says it has a workforce of 16,000 ready for Dorian response

Florida Power & Light says it has mobilized a workforce of more than 16,000 to work on power restoration after Dorian hits.

FPL says the workers are pre-positioned at 24 staging sites and the company has plans for thousands more if needed.

The power company is urging customers to be prepared and take safety precautions ahead of the storm in case of power outages, downed power lines and debris.

Walt Disney World is operating under normal conditions with some closures and cancellations

Walt Disney World Communications released a statement Friday about their operations as Hurricane Dorian approaches:

“Walt Disney World Resort is operating under normal conditions. We are closely monitoring the path of the projected weather, as nothing is more important than the safety of our guests and Cast Members. We are taking precautions including canceling weekend sporting events and closing Disney’s Blizzard Beach Water Park on Sunday. We are also contacting guests with current and upcoming reservations at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground, Copper Creek Cabins at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge, Treehouse Villas at Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa and the Bungalows at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort to plan for anticipated weather impacts.”

Orlando International Airport to cease flight operations Monday morning

Orlando International Airport will cease commercial flight operations on Monday, September 2, at 2 a.m., according to a press release from the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority.

“Hurricane Dorian has strengthened and slowed. Our plan currently is to run full operations through Sunday,” said Phil Brown, CEO of the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority chief. “We don’t know exactly where Dorian is going but we do know that it will have a significant impact on the entire state of Florida. So in order to allow the airport’s 25 thousand employees time to secure their homes and families we feel it is prudent to cease operations in a timely fashion.”

Hurricane warning issued for northwestern Bahamas

A hurricane warning is in effect for the northwestern Bahamas, according to a 5 p.m. advisory from the National Hurricane Center.

A hurricane watch is in effect for Andros Island.

Bahamian Prime Minister Hubert Minnis said at a press conference in Nassau that evacuation orders have been issued for multiple locations.

CNN has previously reported that the Minnis ordered emergency evacuations for residents from the northern Keys of Abaco to mainland Abaco.

Additional evacuation orders have been issued for parts of Grand Bahama island. Grand Bahama is divided into the districts of East Grand Bahama and West Grand Bahama, as well as the Freeport Bonded Area.

In East Grand Bahama, the following settlements must evacuate: Sweeting’s Cay, Water Cay, Gold Rock Creek North and South, Freetown, Pelican Point, Rocky Creek, McLean’s Town, Grand Cay, Deep Water Cay, and Queen’s Cove.

In West Grand Bahama, evacuations have been ordered for the settlements of West End, Bottle Bay and Bahama Beach.

Florida attorney general's office has received more than 1,000 calls of alleged price gouging

The Florida attorney general’s office says it has received more than 1,000 calls of alleged price gouging, with most of the reports concerning bottled water and gas.

The most credible allegations are handled immediately by a rapid response team in the field or consumer protection investigators, according to the attorney general’s office.

Hurricane Dorian could match 70-year-old record

If Hurricane Dorian hits Florida as forecast, it will be the fourth straight year a hurricane has struck the state, something that hasn’t happened since the 1940s.

Gov. Ron DeSantis: 'You need to take preparations for this storm if you haven’t already'

Floridians need to prepare for Hurricane Dorian if they haven’t already, Gov. Ron DeSantis said at the Orange County Emergency Operations Center where he was briefed about the storm.

“We anticipate a lot of rain. Losing power is big probability also. If you’re in an area prone to flooding, you’re likely to see that with this storm,” he said.

DeSantis said Florida Power & Light has brought in 14,000 workers from other states and pre-positioned them across the state so they can restore power as soon as the storm passes.

“You should assume there is going to be power loss if you’re in the path of this storm,” he said.

DeSantis said there are no evacuations in Florida at this time, but if and when they are ordered, people should listen.

“If you’re in an evacuation zone and told to evacuate you need to heed that call and protect yourself and your family,” DeSantis said.

Photos of king tide flooding in Miami Beach

Miami Beach Commissioner John Elizabeth Alemán captured photos of flooding on Friday.

 “It’s not raining and I’m standing in 6 inches of water just based on a king tide and some minor rain. Imagine how these neighbors must be concerned about flooding and evacuation for a tropical storm or hurricane,” Alemán said in a Facebook post.

The flooding is due to the beginning of Florida’s king tides, a term that refers to the highest tides in any given period. These high tides follow a cycle — after all, tides are caused by the moon and follow a predictable pattern.

Florida Keys officials to visitors: Get out if you can

Florida Keys officials are asking visitors to leave the Keys if possible, ahead of Hurricane Dorian

Officials said they are not ordering a mandatory visitor evacuation and lodging properties can remain open.

Officials said that the most significant concern is flooding in the low-lying areas in the Upper Keys.

What it looks like inside Dorian's eye

A team from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Aircraft Operations Center flew into the center of Hurricane Dorian’s eye.

The center of the storm. If you are in the eye, you can see the stadium effect — where the clouds stack up like a stadium. It is the calmest part of the storm. You can even see blue sky during the day and stars at night

Here’s a look at the video the team took while flying through the eye:

FEMA is preparing for "multi-state impact" with Dorian

Federal officials are preparing for “a major impact” from Hurricane Dorian and are planning a two-prong plan for staging responders in different parts of Florida, according to FEMA Associate Administrator Jeffrey Byard.  

“We are looking in coordination with the state, kind of attacking this storm, if you will, from two prongs,” Byard told reporters on a conference call Friday. 

Here’s how he explained the two parts:

  • He said FEMA will have resources in the southern part of the state that can then follow the storm if it should hit central
  • “We’ll definitely have resources in the northern part of the state that can collapse down,” he added.

With landfall several days out, Byard noted there is “uncertainty” and that the agency is preparing for “a multi-state impact” should the impact stretch northward “into Georgia and the Carolinas.”   

These Florida school districts and colleges are closed for Dorian

University of Central Florida students buy groceries at a Wal-Mart Super Store in preparation for Hurricane Dorian.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ office has released a list of school districts, colleges and universities that are canceling classes ahead of Hurricane Dorian.

These are the school districts that have announced closures:

  • Gulf County will be closed on Tuesday.
  • Lake County will be closed on Tuesday and Wednesday. 
  • Brevard County will be closed on Tuesday.
  • Martin County will dismiss students early on Friday and be closed on Tuesday.
  • Miami-Dade adult education classes will be cancelled starting at 6:00 p.m. on Friday.
  • Orange County will be closed on Tuesday.
  • Osceola County will be closed on Tuesday.
  • Seminole County will be closed on Tuesday.
  • St. Lucie will have early dismissal on Friday.
  • Volusia County will be closed on Tuesday.

And these state colleges and universities have also announced closures:

  • Broward College will close all campuses and partnership centers at noon on Saturday until further notice.
  • Daytona State College closed at noon today and will remain closed through Tuesday.
  • Eastern Florida State College closed at noon yesterday and will remain closed through Tuesday.
  • Florida State College at Jacksonville will be closed Saturday through Tuesday.
  • Indian River State College will close at 5:00 p.m. today until further notice. 
  • Palm Beach State College closed at noon today, and will be closed through Tuesday.
  • Seminole State College of Florida will close on Saturday at noon until further notice. 
  • Valencia College will close at 5 p.m. today and remain closed through Tuesday, September 3.
  • Florida Atlantic University closed at 12:30 p.m. today
  • Florida International University canceled classes for today and tomorrow.
  • Florida Polytechnic University will be closed on Tuesday.
  • University of Central Florida will close at 5 p.m. today and remain closed through Tuesday.

5 key takeaways from the Florida governor's briefing with emergency officials

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has been briefing by the director of the Division of Emergency Management and a state meteorologist.

Here are the key takeaways:  

  • No evacuations have been ordered at this time.
  • Three FEMA Urban Search and Rescue Teams are on standby.
  • Tennessee is sending six swift water rescue teams in preparation of the storm.
  • The Florida Highway Patrol is conducting a mission to provide various fuel escorts to communities in need at this time.
  • Florida transit officials have announced that the I-595 Express lanes will operate in the westbound direction beginning at 3 p.m. ET today until Hurricane Dorian has passed. Eastbound traffic will continue to use the general-purpose eastbound lanes throughout this period

Here's what a Category 4 hurricane could look like at landfall

Hurricane Dorian is currently a Category 3 storm with maximum sustained winds of 115 mph. 

But the forecast indicates Dorian may be a Category 4 hurricane — with winds from 130 to 156 mph — when it strikes.

Here’s why that matters: Meteorologists use the Saffir Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale to measure a hurricane’s strength.

The system divides storms into five categories:

  • Category 1: Winds 74 to 95 mph (Minor damage)
  • Category 2: Winds 96 to 110 mph (Extensive damage — Can uproot trees and break windows)
  • Category 3: Winds 111 to 129 mph (Devastating — Can break windows and doors)
  • Category 4: Winds 130 to 156 mph (Catastrophic damage — Can tear off roofs)
  • Category 5: Winds 157 mph or higher (The absolute worst and can level houses and destroy buildings)

This is what each category of a hurricane looks like:

Dorian strengthens to Category 3 major hurricane

Hurricane Dorian continues to strengthen in the Atlantic Ocean, with winds increasing up to 115 mph, making Dorian a Category 3 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson scale.

Hurricanes that are Category 3 or higher are considered major hurricanes.

Dorian is located 625 miles east of West Palm Beach Florida and moving northwest at 10 mph. 

More about categories: Meteorologists use the Saffir Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale to measure a hurricane’s strength.

The system divides storms into five categories:

  • Category 1: Winds 74 to 95 mph
  • Category 2: Winds 96 to 110 mph
  • Category 3: Winds 111 to 129 mph
  • Category 4: Winds 130 to 156 mph
  • Category 5: Winds 157 mph or higher

Bahamas prime minister to residents: "Do not be foolish and try to brave out this hurricane"

Bahamas Prime Minister Hubert Minnis urged Bahamians living in vulnerable areas to not be “foolish” and try to ride out Hurricane Dorian.

He said people need to evacuate as emergency personnel can’t be expected to risk their own lives to rescue them. 

“Let me be externally very clear: Those who refuse to evacuate place themselves in great danger from very powerful and potentially life-threatening hurricane.”  

Minnis said he and his cabinet met with agency officials on Thursday night “to map out the way forward.”

The Bahamian prime minister announced all government offices are closed as of noon Friday.

Dorian could be the strongest hurricane to hit Florida's East Coast since Andrew

A woman jumps across a flooded street in Coconut Grove, Miami, on Aug 24, 1992, in front of a sailboat washed ashore by Hurricane Andrew.

Every county in Florida is under a state of emergency as the state prepares for what may be the strongest hurricane to hit its east coast in nearly three decades.

Dorian — which is currently a Category 2 storm — is forecast to make landfall as a Category 4 storm on Monday, with sustained winds of around 130 mph. If that forecast holds, it will be the strongest hurricane to strike Florida’s East Coast since Andrew in 1992, according to CNN Meteorologist Brandon Miller.

Hurricane Andrew — which formed on Aug. 16 1992, and lasted until Aug. 28 — was originally believed to be a Category 4 storm, but was reclassified in 2005 as a Category 5.

The direct death toll was 26 people — 23 in the United States and three in the Bahamas.

Its path included northwestern Bahamas, Florida and Louisiana, and it caused between $25 and $27 billion in damage.

New York City is sending firefighters to Florida to help with the hurricane

At least 25 members of the New York City Fire Department’s Incident Management Team will head to New York on Sunday to help with hurricane logistics, New York City mayor Bill de Blasio and Fire Commissioner Daniel A. Nigro announced today.

“New York City is ready to do whatever it takes to help those impacted by Hurricane Dorian,” said de Blasio said in a statement. “We are actively monitoring the situation in Florida and the FDNY Incident Management team will be assisting and coordinating with local first responders to ensure they have the support they need in the coming days.”

Here's where Dorian is now — and where it's going next

Dorian is currently spinning in the Atlantic Ocean with winds up to 110 mph. 

So far, the storm has swept across the British and US Virgin Islands and whipped Puerto Rico with rain. It’s expected to get even stronger over the next few days — with winds reaching up to about 130 mph — though it will likely slow down before it hits.

If Dorian continues on its current forecast, it will smack Grand Bahama island on Sunday before it makes landfall in Florida on Monday.

Remember: We’re still a few days out, so the storm could land anywhere from the Florida Keys to southeast Georgia. CNN meteorologist Judson Jones predicted on Thursday that it could be between the Space Coast and West Palm Beach.

You can track the path of the storm here.

Kennedy Space Center will be closed Monday and Tuesday because of Dorian

Several experimental prototypes of EVA (Extra Vehicular Activity) on display with a suit worn on the moon by Apollo 14 astronaut Alan Sheppard (R) in the Apollo Treasures Gallery at the Kennedy Space Center.

Cape Canaveral’s Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex will be closed Sunday and Monday to prepare for Hurricane Dorian. 

On Saturday, the visitor center will be open during regular operating hours of 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET. Kennedy Space Center Bus Tours to the Apollo/Saturn V Center will be available until 2:30 p.m. Special Interest Tours will not be available. 

During this closure, visitors will not be permitted onto visitor complex grounds, the space center said in a news release.

Planning a trip? For the latest updates visit KennedySpaceCenter.com.

President Trump approves emergency declaration for Florida

President Trump has approved a state of emergency declaration for the state of Florida ahead of Hurricane Dorian.

Trump’s actions “authorizes the Department of Homeland Security, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), to coordinate all disaster relief efforts,” the White House said in a statement.

Here’s the full statement:

Broward County will declare a local state of emergency

Broward County Mayor Mark Bogen said a local state of emergency in Broward County will be declared this afternoon. 

Declaring a local state of emergency, Bogen said, allows for local officials to call for an evacuation order and declare curfews, if needed.

Bogen said no evacuation orders have been announced at this time, and county officials continue to monitor closely Dorian’s track.  

All school events in Broward County have been canceled Saturday through Monday, according to Broward County Public Schools Superintendent Robert Runcie. 

Runcie said the school district would continue to amend/ update any potential closures for next week. 

When a Florida gas station ran out of fuel, some people left their cars there overnight

Marion Wilkinson Scott lives in Miami with his wife and two daughters. 

He posted on Twitter a picture of a car left over night at a gas station in West Kendall, with a letter on the dash: “My name is ____. I live close by. My car is out of gas. Please call me when more arrives! Tel: ____.”

Scott told CNN he feels apprehensive over Hurricane Dorian approaching Florida. 

“We stocked up last week when it was a tropical storm and have reservations for a hurricane-proof hotel with generator in Bonita Springs,” he said 

He said he’s worried about his two young daughters.

“I have two little girls. I don’t need for them to be in the heat once the electricity goes. We have shutters on our home. I’m glad we filled or tanks last week and have provisions. It is difficult to heed warnings when there is no gas at the station and no water in the market. Our tub will be filled.”

“We are people of faith. We went to the church to pray,” he added.

How electric scooter companies in Miami are preparing for Dorian

Shared electric scooters are seen in Santa Monica, California.

In preparation for Hurricane Dorian, Lyft is storing all its scooters starting at noon today, per requirements from the City of Miami, according to Lyft spokesperson Kaityln Carl.

Each of the 244 scooters will be picked up by Lyft’s operations team and will be secured in a warehouse. 

“The safety of our community is fundamental to Lyft,” Carl said. “We will resume operations only once conditions improve and will continue to follow the guidance provided by the City of Miami.”

Bird, another e-scooter company, provided CNN with the following statement:

“In anticipation of Hurricane Dorian we’re working closely with city officials and local authorities and have a team closely dedicated to monitoring weather conditions. We are collecting and safely storing our scooters in the City of Miami.”

Dorian will be "an extremely dangerous major hurricane soon"

Hurricane Dorian is still a Category 2 storm with maximum sustained winds of 110 mph, according to the National Hurricane Center’s 11 a.m. ET advisory.

To become a Category 3 storm, Dorian needs maximum sustained winds of at least 111 mph. Category 3 hurricanes and up are considered major storms.

Forecasters believe Dorian will be a Category 4 hurricane by the time it makes landfall in Florida.

Here’s a look at the latest predicted track:

Scores of lightning strikes seen in and around Hurricane Dorian

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration shared a satellite image of the lightning strikes associated with Hurricane Dorian. As of Friday morning, the storm is a Category 2 hurricane, but is expected to make landfall as a Category 4.

The image captures strikes from this morning.

“Take a look at all that lightning!” the agency tweeted.

An eye is starting to form in Hurricane Dorian

In the most recent visible satellite imagery, you can see an eye beginning to emerge in the center of Hurricane Dorian. 

What this means: The eye is the storm. If you are in the eye, you can see the stadium effect — where the clouds stack up like a stadium.

The formation of an eye is an indication that Dorian is intensifying and becoming better organized.

Here’s a look at the emerging eye:

Norwegian Cruise Line adjusts its schedules around Dorian

Norwegian Breakaway

Norwegian Cruise Line has changed the itineraries for its Norwegian Breakaway, Norwegian Sky, and Norwegian Sun ships ahead of Hurricane Dorian’s landfall.

Here’s how the schedules have shifted:

Norwegian Breakaway

For the cruise sailing on Aug. 25
As scheduled, Norwegian Breakaway will call to Cozumel, Mexico, on Friday. At this time, the company is uncertain if the ship will be able to return to Miami, Florida, on Sunday as planned. As such, the ship will extend its time and overnight in Cozumel until Sunday, departing at 5 p.m. During this time, guests will have the option to conclude their cruise and arrange their return home or remain on board. Guests who choose to end their cruise in Cozumel will receive a 25% future cruise credit.
The company asks guests to remain on board and will provide an update on the anticipated return date to Miami by 8 p.m. or sooner on Friday.
For the cruise sailing on Sept. 1
Norwegian is monitoring the storm and will provide an update by 8 p.m. or sooner Friday.

Norwegian Sky

For the cruise sailing on Aug. 26
Norwegian Sky will no longer call to Great Stirrup Cay, Bahamas, and instead will return to Miami, Florida, a day early on Friday. Guests will have the opportunity to remain on board until 7 a.m. on Saturday. Due to the shortened cruise, all guests will receive a 20% refund from the original cruise fare paid. 
For the cruise sailing on August 31
The company is monitoring the storm and will provide an update by 3 p.m. or sooner on Friday.

Norwegian Sun

Norwegian Sun departed from Port Canaveral, Florida, on Thursday, as scheduled. Her calls to Nassau, Great Stirrup Cay, and Freeport, Bahamas, have been cancelled. Instead, the ship will spend a day at sea on Friday, August 30, and will call to Cozumel, Mexico, on Saturday. The ship will remain at sea on Sunday and is scheduled to return to Port Canaveral on Monday.
Guests who booked shore excursions for any of the original ports of call through our shore excursion team, will receive a refund credited to their onboard account. 

NASA is moving the launch platform that will eventually take astronauts to Mars

NASA has moved a launch platform at Kennedy Space Center ahead of Hurricane Dorian, Gregory Harland, a spokesperson for the space center, said.

The Mobile Launch Platform left Launch Pad 39B at 6 a.m. today. It’s being moved 3.5 miles away to the Vehicle Assembly Building.

The platform cost $650 million and is the only one available for the Space Launch System, which will eventually take NASA back to the moon and ultimately to Mars.

Once secured, the Kennedy Space Center will have a skeleton staff on site throughout the storm, Harland added.

There's a fuel shortage across Florida as Dorian heads toward the state

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis acknowledged that there is a fuel shortage across state as Hurricane Dorian approaches.

DeSantis said they are taking steps to fix this issue.

“We, in the emergency declaration, waived service and truck rates for fuel trucks so we can increase capacity for fuel being brought in. We’re also going to be starting today implementing Florida Highway Patrol escorts for fuel trucks so we can increase fueling in critical parts of the state.” DeSantis said. 

During a morning briefing, DeSantis added that because of the decreased speed of the storm, they are expecting Dorian to be “multi-day” event.

These are the Trump-owned properties in Dorian's path

There are at least nine Trump Organization-owned and Trump personally owned properties in South Florida that are in the path of Hurricane Dorian.

There are no evacuation orders in place yet, but CNN has reached out to the Trump Organization for updates on whether they plan to close any of the properties.

“Be prepared and please follow State and Federal instructions, it will be a very big Hurricane, perhaps one of the biggest!” President Trump tweeted Thursday morning.

 In addition to his property ownership, Trump has said he considers Florida home.

“I am thrilled to be back in my second home. That’s what it is. It’s my second home. In many cases, I think I could say it’s my first home, if you want to know the truth. It’s the great state of Florida,” he said during a June campaign rally in Orlando.

As Florida braced for Hurricane Irma in 2017, Trump’s Mar-a-Lago property closed for hurricane preparations following a mandatory evacuation order.

Here’s a list of the properties: 

  • Trump Towers in Sunny Isles Beach, Florida
  • Trump National Doral
  • Trump National Golf Club in Jupiter, Florida
  • Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach
  • Trump Hollywood Hollywood Beach, Florida
  • Trump Grande in Sunny Isles Beach, Florida
  • Mar-A-Lago 
  • Two private homes in West Palm Beach 

These 9 Florida colleges and universities are closed through Tuesday

At least nine colleges and universities are closing their campuses ahead of Hurricane Dorian, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis announced at a news conference moments ago.

The following schools will be closed starting today through Tuesday:

  • Daytona State College
  • Eastern Florida State College
  • Indian River State College
  • Valencia College
  • Seminole State College
  • Florida Atlantic University
  • Florida Polytechnic University
  • Florida International University
  • The University of Central Florida

Watch more:

SOON: Florida governor gives an update on the storm

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis will hold a news conference in Tallahassee about Hurricane Dorian at 9 a.m. ET.

Every Florida county is under a state of emergency as storm preparations continue.

Right now, Dorian is a Category 2 storm, but it’s expected to intensify before making landfall.

If it hits as a Category 4 storm on Monday, it will be the strongest hurricane to strike Florida’s East Coast since Andrew in 1992, according to CNN Meteorologist Brandon Miller.

How vacationers at Disney World and Universal can prepare for Dorian

With Hurricane Dorian expected to slam Florida on Labor Day, vacationers at Disney World and Universal Orlando should begin preparing now.

This advice comes from Robert Niles, editor of Theme Park Insider, who told CNN that these parks have detailed plans for riding out hurricanes, which have been activated several times in the past.

If hurricane-force winds threaten the parks, they will close, Niles said.

So far, Disney and Universal have not issued press releases about park operations duirng the storm.

The best thing tourists can do in the case of a hurricane is to avoid or leave that area, Niles said.

Niles encourages vacationers to stock up on bottled water and shelf-stable food and get a full tank of gas before the storm hits.

Florida utility company prepares for Dorian

Florida Power and Light has activated its emergency response plan for Hurricane Dorian, according to a press release from the company.

 Here are some steps the company is taking:

  • Nearly 13,000 Florida Power and Light employees and additional personnel are ready to help restore power.
  • The company said it is working with utilities nationwide to get extra crews and equipment ahead of landfall.
  • The company is urging customers to make preparations now. Customers can download the Florida Power and Light app by texting the word “App” to 69375.

He moved to Florida 3 months ago, so this is his first hurricane

Windermere, Florida, resident Dango Kumwenda said he waited in line for almost two hours to pump gas at a local station.

Kumwenda posted a video of long lines of cars waiting to fill their cars at the Winter Garden Wawa gas station to his Twitter account.

The 24-year-old, who works as a personal loan specialist, said this is his first storm. He moved to Florida about three months ago.

“I’m not really sure how to feel about it, to be honest,” he said. “I would be lying if I said I wasn’t worried, but everyone else around here feels like they can ride it out so it’s putting me at ease a little bit.”

Kumwenda also posted a picture of empty shelves at the local Walmart. Take a look:

The shelves at Kumwenda's local Walmart have been cleared by residents preparing for the storm.

Dorian's winds are one mph shy of being a Category 3

The National Hurricane Center just released its 8 a.m. ET advisory for Hurricane Dorian.

The storm is still a Category 2 with maximum sustained winds of 110 mph. To become a Category 3 storm, Dorian needs maximum sustained winds of at least 111 mph.

Category 3 hurricanes and up are considered major storms.

Here’s the latest forecast from the center:

Universal Studios is open — for now

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter is seen at the Universal Orlando Resort

As Dorian approaches, Universal Studios says they are open for business.

The Orlando, Florida, theme park said in a statement that they are closely monitoring the hurricane.

Planning a trip? Universal will continue to update their website, www.universalorlando.com, with any additional updates as they receive them.

Bahamas under hurricane watch

The government of the Bahamas has issued hurricane watches for the northwestern Bahamas, including the capital, Nassau, as the risk of life-threatening storm surge and hurricane-force winds this weekend continues to increase for this area.  

A hurricane watch means that hurricane conditions are possible within 48 hours.

The official forecast track has the storm passing directly over Great Abaco and Grand Bahama island Sunday into early Monday morning.

Atlanta Motor Speedway opens free camping facilities to evacuees

Atlanta Motor Speedway is opening its camping facilities to evacuees seeking refuge from Hurricane Dorian.

The Speedway, which is equipped to handle thousands of campers during its annual NASCAR weekend, will provide camping space free of charge for RV and tent campers in its Legends Campground.

Located next to the camp sites, AMS will also open the Rinnai Shower Station camper bath house, allowing evacuees free access to hot showers and restroom facilities during their stay.

Over the last few years, Atlanta Motor Speedway has opened its grounds to hundreds of people seeking refuge from powerful storms. During Hurricane Irma in 2017, the Speedway hosted more than 100 campers; in 2018 dozens more stayed in the Speedway’s camping areas during Hurricanes Florence and Michael.

“Our facility is uniquely suited for just this type of situation and making space available for people seeking refuge from hurricanes and other natural disasters is simply the right thing to do,” Executive Vice President and General Manager Brandon Hutchison said.

A limited number of camping spaces with water, power and sewer are also available for a nominal fee of $20 per night in the Premier Campground.

Dorian could be the strongest hurricane to hit Florida's east coast since Andrew

Every county in Florida is under a state of emergency as the state prepares for what may be the strongest hurricane to hit its east coast in nearly three decades.

At 105 mph, Dorian is the strongest storm of the Atlantic hurricane season so far. If it makes landfall as a Category 4 storm on Monday as forecast, with sustained winds of around 130 mph, it will be the strongest hurricane to strike Florida’s East Coast since Andrew in 1992, according to CNN Meteorologist Brandon Miller.

Dorian is currently a Category 2 storm.

It will also be the fourth year in a row of a hurricane of any strength hitting Florida, the most years in a row since the 1940s.

After tearing through the British and US Virgin Islands and drenching Puerto Rico with rain Wednesday, Dorian was moving northwest in the Atlantic Thursday night.

Dorian has strengthened to a Category 2 hurricane

Hurricane Dorian is strengthening once again, with winds increasing up to 105 miles per hour, according to the National Hurricane Center. This makes Dorian a Category 2 on the Saffir-Simpson scale. 

“Dorian is expected to become a major hurricane on Friday and remain an extremely dangerous hurricane through the weekend,” said the Center in its latest public advisory.

Hurricane Dorian is expected to make landfall in Florida as a category 4 storm on Monday. 

The advisory adds that there may be life-threatening flash floods, swells and rip current conditions.

There are currently no coastal watches or warnings currently in effect.

Read the full public advisory here.

Home Depot sent more than 160 truckloads of supplies to stores

Florida residents have emptied shelves at Walmart on August 29, 2019 in Orlando as they prepare for Dorian.

Hardware retailer Home Depot is working to get supplies in place before Dorian strikes.  

“As communities prepare for Hurricane Dorian, we’ve sent more than 160 truckloads of supplies to our stores,” The Home Depot announced yesterday on Twitter.  

Residents in Florida, Georgia, and other southern states have been stockpiling supplies in the past two days as they prepare for the hurricane, which is expected to make landfall over Labor Day weekend.

NASA prepares to protect its space flight equipment as Dorian approaches

Teams at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida are working to protect the Artemis space flight hardware from Dorian. 

Artemis is the NASA project to put humans back on the moon’s South Pole by 2024.

On Wednesday, NASA moved equipment like the Mobile Launcher indoors to protect the hardware from strong winds.

“We will continue to monitor the weather throughout the preparations and roll operations and should there be a significant change, our team will be poised to adjust. In its final phases of development, the mobile launcher stands nearly 400 feet tall and is needed to assemble, process and launch NASA’s powerful Space Launch Rocket and Orion spacecraft on missions to the Moon and Mars,” said Alison Knox, a NASA spokesperson.

According to Knox, the space center is scheduled to close at 6 pm ET on Saturday, but that could change if the storm slows. 

Florida launched a website to monitor generators at nursing homes

Ahead of Hurricane Dorian, Florida has launched a website monitoring the generator status of nursing homes and long-term care facilities.

All Florida nursing homes and assisted living facilities are required to keep residents in a safe environment in an emergency – and part of this includes regulating temperature. The facilities must have an emergency power plan to make sure air conditioners keep temperatures under 81 degrees.

“I think that sends a very important message that if you are entrusted of care with these vulnerable population, it’s really your responsibility to have a plan in case for what is going to happen,” said the state’s governor DeSantis earlier on Thursday.

Stay updated with the map here.

Florida governor requests a pre-landfall disaster declaration from Trump

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis sent a letter to the White House on Thursday, requesting a pre-landfall disaster declaration from President Trump ahead of Hurricane Dorian. 

“With Hurricane Dorian strengthening, I have sent a letter to President Donald Trump requesting that he declare a pre-landfall disaster for all of Florida’s 67 counties. The trajectory of this storm remains uncertain, and this declaration will provide us with the necessary resources to ensure the state is fully prepared,” said the Gov. DeSantis.

 “I am confident the President will grant my request and show his full support for Florida,” he added.

According to the governor’s press release, the declaration will provide important resources and assistance from the federal government, as well as free up funding sources for emergency protective measures.

What Hurricane Dorian looks like from space

NASA has captured data from Hurricane Dorian, which is expected to hit Florida’s coast this weekend. The space agency’s Aqua satellite has an atmospheric infrared sounder, which is used to map the temperature, humidity, cloud amounts and heights in the Earth’s atmosphere.

In the image below, taken on Thursday afternoon, the purple area signals cold clouds carried high into the atmosphere by thunderstorms – also signaling heavy rainfall. Blue and green indicate warmer areas with shallower rain clouds, while the orange and red represent mostly cloud-free air.

Hurricane Dorian at 1:30 p.m. ET on Aug. 29, 2019.

The Navy evacuated aircraft and ships in Florida

The US Navy has ordered evacuation for aircraft at the Naval Air Station Jacksonville and ships at the Naval Station Mayport.

Both the air station and port are located on Florida’s East Coast, where the hurricane is expected to hit first. The aircraft and ships will begin evacuating on Friday to Navy bases in the southeast and mid-Atlantic.

Here's how Florida is preparing for the storm 

Florida residents buy supplies in preparation for Hurricane Dorian on August 29, 2019 in Orlando, Florida.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis said in a press release that the state is preparing for Hurricane Dorian with all available resources, with 2,500 Florida National Guard members activated and another 1,500 on standby.

The governor is also working with federal, state, and local emergency officials to prepare for the storm, which is forecasted to hit the state’s east coast as a major hurricane – possibly even a Category 4, the statement said.

Here’s how the state is preparing:

  • Food and water: Florida has 819,000 gallons of water and 1.8 million meals ready for distribution. Another 200,000 gallons of water are on the way, bringing the total to more than 1 million gallons. The state has pre-deployed 860,000 bottles of water to preparing counties.
  • Schools: Schools will close on Tuesday in Martin and Volusia counties. Daytona State College, Valencia College, University of Central Florida, Florida Atlantic University, and Florida Polytechnic University will also close for varying periods.
  • Emergency response: 15 urban search and rescue teams are on standby. State agencies like the Florida Highway Patrol, Department of Highway Safety, and Florida Department of Law Enforcement have prepared emergency response resources.
  • Medical response: County health departments are pre-identifying and preparing resources, and the Department of Elder Affairs is working to meet needs of elderly and disabled Floridians.

Democratic congressman says Trump is worried about Florida because it's 'not an island full of people of color'

Rep. Don Beyer of Virginia said Thursday that President Donald Trump’s change in tone on Hurricane Dorian after it was announced that the storm will make landfall in Florida, skirting Puerto Rico, is because the state “is not an island full of people of color.”

“Well, part of it is that Florida could be a swing state in 2020. And part of it is Florida is not an island full of people of color. We have seen him again and again pick on anywhere color is involved,” Beyer, a Democratic House member told CNN’s Wolf Blitzer on Thursday.

Disney Cruise Lines is changing routes to keep travelers away from storm

Disney Cruise Lines plans to operate its popular 4,000-passenger Disney Dream out of Port Canaveral to the Bahamas despite Dorian.

The company has added two extra nights and turned the trip into a five-night sailing journey returning on Wednesday. The cruise was initially set to arrive back in Florida on the same day Dorian is expected to make landfall.

“We will continue to monitor weather forecasts throughout your sailing and adjust as needed,” the cruise line said in a statement.

The cruise line is giving options to passengers do not want to sail on the updated itineraries. It’s unclear whether the company has canceled any other routes. 

This is what Dorian looks like from space

The International Space Station’s camera is keeping an eye on Dorian from above.

The camera captured the powerful storm around 1 p.m. Thursday as it roared over the Atlantic Ocean, north of Puerto Rico.

Schools are canceling classes and evacuating student dorms

Classes at the University of Central Florida and schools in Martin County will be canceled at least until Tuesday, officials said.

Bethune-Cookman University, a private, historically black university in Daytona Beach, Florida will also be closed beginning Friday until further notice, university officials said.

“Students MUST evacuate the residence halls and campus by 6:00 p.m. on Friday, August 30, 2019,” read a notice issued by the school.
”Staff and Faculty are expected to secure their offices and cover computers and other electronic devices with plastic garbage bags to minimize any water intrusion.”

University officials said students living on campus who are not able to evacuate the city will be taken to a shelter in the area.

US Air Force evacuating aircraft ahead of the hurricane

The US Air Force is evacuating 16 KC-135s aircraft from MacDill Air Force Base near Tampa, Florida to McConnell AFB in Kansas, a US Air Force official told CNN.

The US Navy is also expected to move out to sea US warships in port at the US Naval Station Mayport in Jacksonville, Florida

Some Walmart shoppers in Florida are finding empty shelves

Employees at a Walmart store in St. Augustine, Florida have been busy restocking shelves as residents continue searching for supplies ahead of Hurricane Dorian.

But shoppers could not find any water bottles or gallons in the store as of Thursday afternoon.

University of Miami cancels classes starting at noon on Friday

The University of Miami has canceled classes at the Coral Gables, marine and medical campuses from noon Friday through Tuesday, the university said in a press release. 

Classes will resume on Wednesday.

All university events scheduled for the Labor Day weekend have been canceled on the Coral Gables and marine campuses.

In an abundance of caution, the University is putting up storm shutters and positioning sandbags near doorways on the Coral Gables, marine, and medical campuses.

Here's the latest update on Dorian from the National Hurricane Center

Hurricane Dorian is still a Category 1 storm with sustained winds of 85 mph, according to the National Hurricane Center’s 5 p.m. ET advisory.

Dorian is expected to strengthen into a Category 4 hurricane by Sunday, with 130 mph winds, near the Bahamas.

Here’s the latest path:

Georgia governor declares state of emergency for Hurricane Dorian

Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp has declared a state of emergency for the state ahead of Hurricane Dorian.

The State of Emergency is for these counties:

  • Brantley
  • Bryan
  • Camden
  • Charlton
  • Chatham
  • Effingham
  • Glynn
  • Liberty
  • Long
  • McIntosh
  • Pierce
  • Wayne

The state of emergency is for a period of 11 days, beginning today and ending on September 9.

Dorian spared Puerto Rico, so FEMA is moving teams from the island to Florida

Since Hurricane Dorian left minimal impacts on Puerto Rico, the Federal Emergency Management Agency is now shifting teams to one of the storm’s next targets: Florida.

FEMA associate administrator Jeffrey Byard told reporters on Thursday that the agency has gotten “no request” to help in Puerto Rico or the US Virgin Islands.

Puerto Rico, still recovering from Hurricane Maria in 2017, was expected the storm to exacerbate the existing damage to infrastructure, but the island was largely spared.

Byard added that federal officials are bracing for a “big storm” that warrants a “big response” with a multi-billion dollar price tag. 

“The most important thing now is to make sure the citizens understand the dangers that Hurricane Dorian will pose,” he said. This is going to be a major storm again impacting some portions of Florida, somewhere along their Eastern coast, then go inland and create a lot of havoc with infrastructure, power, roads. A lot of rain.” 

As Dorian gathers strength, New Orleans marks the 14th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina

New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell commemorated the 14th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina today during a wreath-laying ceremony.

LaToya and other public officials gathered at the Katrina Memorial on Canal Street to remember the victims of the storm, which made landfall near Grand Isle, Louisiana, in 2005 as a Category 3 storm with winds near 127 mph.

Some other facts and figures on Hurricane Katrina:

  • About 25,000 storm evacuees were sheltered at the Louisiana Superdome, a sports arena. Wind and water damage to the roof created unsafe conditions, leading authorities to conduct emergency evacuations of the Superdome. 
  • The total damage is estimated to be $125 billion (not adjusted for inflation).
  • In an analysis of 971 fatalities in Louisiana and 15 additional deaths of storm evacuees, 40% of deaths were caused by drowning. 25% were caused by injury and trauma and 11% were caused by heart conditions.
  • Nearly half the fatalities in Louisiana were people over the age of 74.
  • The total number of fatalities — directly or indirectly — stands at 1,833.

Hurricane Dorian is the strongest Atlantic storm this season

Hurricane Dorian is spinning in the Atlantic, heading toward Florida.

At 85 mph, Dorian is the strongest storm of the Atlantic hurricane season so far.

If Dorian continues on its current forecast….

  • It would be the strongest hurricane since 1992: A category 4 landfall would be the strongest hurricane to strike Florida’s East Coast since Andrew in 1992
  • It would be the third year in a row with a major hurricane landfall for Florida: Major hurricanes are those Category 3 and above — Hurricane Irma hit in 2017 and Hurricane Michael made landfall last year.
  • It would be the fourth year in a row of any hurricane hitting the state: For Florida, this would be the the most years in a row since the 1940’s.

Palm Beach County schools will still be in session tomorrow

Palm Beach County schools will be open as normal tomorrow, officials announced at an afternoon news conference.

Officials are still monitoring the path of Hurricane Dorian, and they will access over the weekend after the storm hits. 

State emergency declared in all 67 Florida counties

Governor Ron DeSantis reviews Dorian's path

Gov. Ron DeSantis has declared a state of emergency for all 67 Florida counties — up from 26 counties yesterday.

During a press conference Thursday afternoon, DeSantis also discussed Florida’s nursing home facilities and how 94.6% of them are in compliance with the state requirement.

“All residents, especially those along the east coast, need to be prepared for possible impacts. As it increases strength, this storm has the potential to severely damage homes, businesses and buildings, which is why all Floridians should remain vigilant. Do not wait until it is too late to make a plan.”

Other highlight’s from the governor’s press conference:

  • Florida not currently under watches or warnings.
  • No evacuations ordered at this time.
  • The state has 819,000 gallons of water and 1.8 million meals ready for distribution.

Dorian reconnaissance mission carried out by all-female crew

The National Hurricane Center dispatched its Gulfstream IV-SP “hurricane hunter” aircraft into the Atlantic this afternoon to collect data on Hurricane Dorian as it works its way toward Florida’s coast.

The team aboard the Gulfstream is made up of Capt. Kristie Twining, Cmdr. Rebecca Waddington, and Lt. Lindsey Norman who made National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) history Aug. 5, 2018, as the first all-female crew to pilot an aircraft during a hurricane mission. The mission was for Hurricane Hector near Hawaii. The three women dropped atmospheric monitoring devices called dropsondes to collect temperature, pressure, wind speed, wind direction and humidity data–all crucial to creating NOAA’s hurricane forecasts, NOAA reported.

All three women were interviewed by NOAA for a story on their careers in February. In it, Waddington discussed what it’s like being a woman in aviation and uniformed service:

Check out the route Waddington and the crew took on their Dorian mission Thursday here.

You can buy a Dorian cookie cake from Publix for your hurricane party

As Florida waits for another hurricane, a Publix in St. Johns decided to sweeten the situation by decorating a cookie cake with the path of the storm.

Customer Jessica Sullivan posted a picture of the hurricane themed Dorian cookie cake on her Facebook page with the caption: “Publix has all your hurricane party supplies.”

Sullivan spotted the cookie when she stopped in to buy a birthday cake for her son and saw the cookie. Big storms usually scare her boys, so she thought getting the cookie cake would help.

But a bit of bad news: There was only one left.

The Publix store had no comment on the cake decoration.

West Palm Beach mayor to residents: Be prepared for evacuations

West Palm Beach Mayor Keith James told residents to make sure they have enough water and prepare for evacuations ahead of Hurricane Dorian.

James said they are preparing for the worst and hoping for the best as the city watches the forecast of the hurricane.

He advised residents have one gallon of water per person for five days. He also told residents to pay attention to city alerts and future evacuations.

Catching you up: What you need to know about Hurricane Dorian

Hurricane Dorian, currently a Category 1 storm, is expected to intensify as it churns toward the Atlantic coast of the US.

The National Hurricane Center will provide its next update at 5 p.m. ET. Until then, here’s what you need to know about Dorian:

  • Where is the storm now? Hurricane Dorian is in the Atlantic Ocean, more than 300 miles off the coast of the South Eastern Bahamas.
  • When is it going to hit? The storm is forecast to make landfall in Florida on Monday.
  • How powerful is it? Dorian is currently a Category 1 storm with maximum sustained winds of up to 85 mph. But it’s going to intensify: Dorian is expected to become a Category 4 hurricane before it hits. Storms in that category have winds maximum sustained between 130 and 156 mph.
  • What damage has it done so far? Dorian swept across the British and US Virgin Islands and whipped Puerto Rico with rain Wednesday, 

A day-by-day look at what to expect from Hurricane Dorian

Hurricane Dorian is forecast to hit Florida on Monday as a Category 4 hurricane.

Here’s the day-by-day look at what we’re expecting:

  • Thursday: Dorian will move into the Caribbean Sea northwest of Turks and Caicos. Less wind shear, less dry air and warm sea surface temperatures will make it stronger.
  • Friday: The storm will likely becomes a major storm of Category 3 or higher. High pressure along the US East Coast will steer Dorian west, and tropical storm-force winds of 39 mph or greater will arrive in the Bahamas.
  • Saturday: Tropical storm-force winds will arrive in Florida by the evening, and small fluctuations in storm intensity are likely.
  • Sunday: Dorian is expected to strengthen into a Category 4 hurricane, with 130 mph winds, near the Bahamas. The storm’s forward movement will probably slow down.
  • Monday: Dorian will creep toward Florida’s east coast. The storm is expected to make landfall, possibly between the Space Coast and West Palm Beach. Hurricane conditions will be felt all day across an area that extends 40 miles from the storm’s center.

More changes to Carnival cruise routes as Dorian approaches

Carnival has modified some of its cruise ship itineraries in the Caribbean and Bahamas in preparation for Hurricane Dorian.  

The company will update its guests and travel partners with information on their cruises and posting updates on its website and on social media.

Carnival provided the following itinerary changes to ships leaving from following east coast ports:

MIAMI

Carnival Victory 8/30 (modified itinerary)

  • 8/30 – Miami
  • 8/31 – Now Key West (previously Nassau)
  • 9/1 – At Sea
  • 9/2 – Miami

Carnival Sensation 8/31 (modified itinerary)

  • 8/31 – Miami
  • 9/1 – At Sea (previously Nassau)
  • 9/2 – Now Grand Turk (previously Half Moon Cay)
  • 9/3 – Now Half Moon Cay (previously Grand Turk)
  • 9/4 – Now Nassau (previously at Sea)
  • 9/5 – Miami

Carnival will monitor the path of the storm for the below sailings which are scheduled to operate as normal at this time:

  • Carnival Conquest 8/31
  • Carnival Horizon 8/31 – guests can sign up for text alerts by texting CCL5 to CRUISE (278473)
  • Carnival Victory 9/2– guests can sign up for text alerts by texting CCL6 to CRUISE (278473)
  • There is a possibility that Carnival Victory may not be able to return to PortMiami on Monday. If the port is closed, the ship will be in position to dock as soon as authorities have reopened the port.

FORT LAUDERDALE

Carnival Magic 8/25 (modified itinerary)

  • 8/25 – Fort Lauderdale
  • 8/26 – At Sea
  • 8/27 – Half Moon Cay
  • 8/28 – Grand Turk
  • 8/29 – At Sea (previously Amber Cove)
  • 8/30 – Now Nassau (previously at Sea)
  • 8/31 – Fort Lauderdale

The path of the storm will continue to be monitored the below sailing which is scheduled to operate as normal:

  • Carnival Magic 8/31

TAMPA

The following trips are scheduled to operate as normal for right now:

  • Carnival Paradise 8/31
  • Carnival Miracle 9/01 – guests can sign up for text alerts by texting CCL4 to CRUISE (278473).

PORT CANAVERAL

Carnival Breeze 8/24 (modified itinerary)

  • 8/24 – Port Canaveral
  • 8/25 – At Sea
  • 8/26 – Amber Cove
  • 8/27 – St. Thomas
  • 8/28 – Now at sea (Previously San Juan)
  • 8/29 – Grand Turk                                  
  • 8/30 – At Sea
  • 8/31 – Port Canaveral

 The following trips are scheduled to operate as normal, for now:

  • Carnival Elation 8/29 – the ship will visiting Nassau on Friday as scheduled; we will inform guests whether we are able to visit Freeport on Sunday
  • Carnival Liberty 8/30 – call at Nassau will be shortened
  • Carnival Breeze 8/31
  • Carnival Elation 9/2 – guests can sign up for text alerts by texting CCL1 to CRUISE (278473).
  • Carnival 9/2 – guests can sign up for text alerts by texting CCL2 to CRUISE (278473)

There is a possibility that Carnival Elation and Carnival Liberty may not be able to return to Port Canaveral on Monday. If the port is closed, ships will be in position to dock as soon as authorities have reopened the port.

JACKSONVILLE

The following trip is scheduled to operate as normal:

  • Carnival Ecstasy 8/31

CHARLESTON

Carnival Sunshine 8/29 (modified itinerary)

  • 8/29 – Charleston
  • 8/30 – At Sea
  • 8/31 – Now Key West (previously Princess Cays)
  • 9/1 – At Sea
  • 9/2 – Charleston

 The following trip is scheduled to operate as normal for now:

  • Carnival Sunshine 9/2 (guests can sign up for text alerts by texting CCL3 to CRUISE (278473).

There is a possibility that Carnival Sunshine may not be able to return to the Port of Charleston on Monday. If the port is closed, the ship will be in position to dock as soon as authorities have reopened the port.

NEW YORK

Carnival Sunrise 8/27 (modified itinerary)

  • 8/27 – New York
  • 8/28 – At Sea                            
  • 8/29 – At Sea                            
  • 8/30 – Now San Juan (previously Grand Turk)
  • 8/31 – Now Amber Cove (Previously San Juan)
  • 9/1 – Now Grand Turk (Previously Amber Cove)
  • 9/2 – At Sea                            
  • 9/3 – At Sea                            
  • 9/4 – New York                                       

US military sending Florida-based planes to Ohio, Texas and Michigan ahead of Dorian

The US Navy Wing Eleven in Jacksonville, Florida, will be sending a fleet of planes to Michigan, Ohio and Texas in preparation of Hurricane Dorian’s landfall.

Naval Air Station PAO Kaylee LaRocque told CNN that they are starting to fly out the P-8A Poseidon and P-3C Orion aircraft today:

  • Eight planes are going to Selfridge Air National Guard Base in Michigan
  • 10 planes are going to Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio
  • 12 planes are going to Rickenbacker Air National Guard Base in Ohio
  • 12 planes are going to Fort Worth Joint Reserve Base in Texas

14 steps to take before a hurricane hits

Hurricane Dorian is forecast to hit Florida as a Category 4 hurricane over Labor Day weekend.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has urged residents to prepare for the storm now.

So what should you do first? Here’s a checklist to help you get started, with tips from the American Red CrossFederal Emergency Management Agency, the Department of Homeland Security and the National Hurricane Center

Florida's Kennedy Space Center will be closed on Sunday and Monday

Examples of past space travel stand in the "Rocket Garden" at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex

Kennedy Space Center’s visitor center in Cape Canaveral, Florida, will likely be closed on Sunday and Monday because of Hurricane Dorian, the space center said in a statement.

The space center said the complex will be open during normal business hours on Saturday — 9 a.m. until 6 p.m. However, there will be no bus tours or special interest tours. 

These airlines are offering travel vouchers for people flying through Florida

A Southwest Airlines passenger jet makes its final approach to Tampa International Airport

Major airlines are issuing travel waivers for passengers traveling through Florida ahead of Hurricane Dorian.

Here’s how some airlines are handling the hurricane: 

  • Delta has issued travel advisories for the these impacted cities.
  • American Airlines is letting some passengers change their flights without fees. Read more about which flights qualify here.
  • Spirit Airlines is offering travel waivers for flights to, from and through at least 10 cities.
  • Southwest Airlines said 18 flights cancelled Wednesday and Thursday out of 800 flights per airline spokesman. Travel waivers have been issued for passengers traveling to and from multiple cities.

Florida State University moves football game away from Atlantic coast because of Dorian

The Florida State Seminoles

Florida State University’s Saturday football game against Boise State will be played in Tallahassee due to the uncertainty of the Dorian, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said

The game was supposed to be played in Jacksonville, on Florida’s Atlantic coast.

“After consulting with emergency responders, law enforcement and hurricane preparedness teams at the state and local level, moving the game is the best option given the information we have at this time,” FSU Director of Athletics David Coburn said in statement Thursday.

“We regret having to move the venue in particular because of the tremendous work that the City of Jacksonville has invested in this event. They have been great partners, and we are disappointed that the game had to be moved. Our fans were very much looking forward to the experience.”

All tickets previously purchased for the game in Jacksonville will be refunded, the school said. Florida State will sell $10.00 general admission tickets online.  

NASA is tracking Dorian's rainfall as it churns in the Atlantic

A NASA Earth satellite is estimating rainfall rates for Hurricane Dorian as it moves through the Atlantic Ocean.

The space agency tweeted that the storm is “packing heavy rains as it moves toward the Bahamas.”

“Our @NASAEarth satellite has the ability to peer under the “hood” or clouds of a storm and estimate the rainfall rates occurring,” NASA said.

Take a look:

How to read the spaghetti models for Hurricane Dorian

There’s a reason why these maps are called spaghetti models. Just take a look. There are lines all over the place.

Also known as spaghetti plots, these models show where a tropical system, such as a hurricane, may go.

Here’s how to read them: The forecast track from each model is represented by a line. When these are all plotted together, they can look like a bunch of spaghetti.

Sometimes they spread out and go all over the place. That is a good indication that there is low confidence in where the storm is likely to go.

However, when they are all packed in close together, the forecaster can be more confident in where the storm is going.

Read more about spaghetti models here.

Florida inmates are stuffing sandbags ahead of Dorian

Inmates in Pasco County, Florida, are continuing to work on sandbagging efforts in preparation for Hurricane Dorian. The storm is expected to make landfall over Labor Day weekend as a Category 4 storm.

A photo of the inmates working was tweeted this morning by the Pasco Sheriff’s Office along a schedule for sandbagging operations.

These inmates are not paid but are part of the department’s crew of non-violent offenders who receive time off of their sentence for working, Kevin Doll, community relations director with Pasco Sheriff’s Office, told CNN.

“We typically have inmates assist with sandbag operations for citizens in every emergency storm situation,” Doll said. “I have been here 21 years, and they have been doing it at least that amount of time. Inmate work crews can be from anywhere from five to 10 inmates, depending on the job at hand, including sandbagging.”

Here’s a list of locations for sandbag pickup:

How Dorian's winds compare to Katrina and other major storms

Dorian is currently Category 1 storm with maximum sustained winds of 85 mph.

The hurricane is forecast to increase significantly in not only strength but also in size as it approaches the Southeastern US, becoming a Category 4 storm before it makes landfall in Florida.

Categories of hurricanes are defined by their wind speeds:

  • Category 1: 74-95 mph
  • Category 2: 96-110 mph
  • Category 3: 111-129 mph
  • Category 4: 130-156 mph
  • Category 5: 157 mph or higher

Here’s a look at other major storms’ wind speeds:

Remember: While wind speeds dictate a storm’s category, other factors can determine storms’ strength. Bigger storms make for wider-spreading impacts and also make storm surge worse as they build up a bigger swell.

Here’s a look at forecast winds for Hurricane Dorian:

Florida has 1 million gallons of drinking water on hand, governor says

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said the state currently have one million gallons of drinking water.

The state also has more than one million meals available for those who need it ahead of Hurricane Dorian, DeSantis said during a news conference this morning.

This Florida county declared a local state of emergency

The Pasco County Board of County Commissioners has issued a local state of emergency ahead of Hurricane Dorian, according to a tweet from the county’s sheriff. 

What this does: The declaration allows officials to waive everyday procedures and do what they feel is necessary to ensure the health, safety and welfare of the community. This includes:

  • Ordering evacuations
  • Performing public work
  • Making emergency purchases
  • Renting equipment
  • Hiring workers
  • Using volunteers.

The local state of emergency will be in effect for 7 days or until rescinded by the County Administrator if it’s no longer needed.

Here’s the tweet:

Dorian is expected to be a Category 4 hurricane when it makes landfall

Hurricane Dorian is forecast to be a Category 4 hurricane when it makes landfall in Florida over Labor Day weekend, according to the National Hurricane Center’s latest advisory.

The storm, which is currently a Category 1 with 85 mph maximum sustained winds, is about 370 miles off the coast of the Southeastern Bahamas.

Here’s a look at the latest predicted path:

How the climate crisis is making hurricanes more dangerous

While Hurricane Dorian has not been caused by the climate crisis, we do know that climate change is making hurricanes more dangerous.

Here’s how:

  • Storm surges are becoming more destructive: Rising sea levels, a product of expanding oceans, the loss of ice sheets and melting glaciers, makes a storm surge more menacing. Water levels along the Florida coast are nearly a foot higher than they were a century ago, automatically making the storm surge much higher.
  • Storms are also becoming wetter: As water and air warms, evaporation increases and the air is capable of holding more water. With a temperature increase of just 1 degree Celsius, the amount of water vapor increases by 7%. And as the climate crisis has already seen the world become 1 degree hotter than it was 100 years ago, that means that there’s more than 7% more water available in the atmosphere. When storms come along, they ring out that atmospheric moisture as rain, resulting in an increase of the rate of rainfall in hurricanes – and all other storms. We saw this during Hurricane Florence and Harvey, two of the wettest hurricanes ever recorded.
  • Storms are becoming more intense: Oceans are not only getting hotter at the surface but at lower depths due to climate change caused by humans. When there’s a lot of heat content in the ocean, it allows storms to intensify rapidly through a process called rapid intensification, which is defined by when maximum wind speeds increase by more than 35 mph in a 24-hour period. In the case of Dorian, at 11 p.m. ET Wednesday, the storm had sustained winds of 85 mph — The night before they were recorded at 50 mph.

There are no evacuation orders yet for Trump's 11 Florida properties

Hurricane Dorian expected to make landfall on the Atlantic coast of Florida, where there are 11 Trump Organization-owned properties.

There are no evacuation orders in place yet, and CNN has reached out to the Trump Organization for updates on whether they plan to close any of the properties.

Here’s where the Trump properties are located:

Compare that to Dorian’s possible path:

How Trump properties have handled hurricanes in the past: As Florida braced for Hurricane Irma in 2017, Trump’s Mar-a-Lago property closed for hurricane preparations following a mandatory evacuation order.

As CNN reported at the time, Secret Service is not obligated to maintain a presence at the club during a hurricane because it is not a permanent protected property, according to former Secret Service agent Jonathan Wackrow, a CNN contributor.

When Trump isn’t there, the local West Palm Beach Secret Service field office stays in close communication with Secret Service, but that doesn’t mean it’s fully staffed. Procedurally, Secret Service treats a trip to Mar-a-Lago as “bespoke,” just like any short-term presidential trip to a Seattle Sheraton or a Phoenix Marriott, sweeping and securing the facility and taking electronic countermeasures beforehand, Wackrow said. 

Trump: Florida is "going to be totally ready" for Hurricane Dorian

President Trump said Florida is “going to be totally ready and Puerto Rico was totally ready” for Hurricane Dorian, which is expected to hit the US over Labor Day weekend.

Trump made the comment this morning during a call in to Fox News’ Brian Kilmeade Show. He thanked FEMA and “all of the first responders.”

On Tuesday, the Trump administration announced plans to shift $155 million from FEMA’s disaster relief fund to immigration priorities — which, along with FEMA, is a responsibility of the Department of Homeland Security.

A FEMA spokeswoman said the agency has sufficient funding and acknowledged the challenges of responding to Dorian “on top of a complex recovery effort” from the earlier storms.

They can't brew beer because of the hurricane. Here's what they're doing instead.

Hurricane Dorian is putting a wrench in Grove Roots Brewing production schedule. The Winter Haven, Florida, beer company shut down brewing operations for at least a week because of the storm.

“We are worried about losing power, which causes a whole string of issues with an actively fermenting beer,” owner Joe Dunham said. “Power outages will take down our cooling systems that keep the fermenters cold and our large coolers holding finished product.”

But instead of letting their sterilized fermenters sit idle, they’re going to be put to use to help the community.

Dunham said they’re filling them with 1,500 of drinking water for residents in case there’s water quality issues post-storm.

“We are first and foremost a community-centric brewery,” Dunham says. “We believe in our small town and will do all we can to help people. If the need arises, we will have plenty of water to share. It’s the least we can do for the community we love.”

Here’s a look at the fermenters turned water tanks:

Disney's Star Wars theme park opens as Dorian approaches Florida

As it opens, the signature attraction and ride at Disneyland's Galaxy's Edge is the full-scale, 100-plus-foot-long, movie-perfect Millennium Falcon.

Walt Disney World Resort’s Hollywood Studios opened its new Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge park expansion Thursday while Florida braces for Hurricane Dorian. The park opened roughly four months after Disneyland in Anaheim, California, opened its own version inspired by the film series.

Disney has yet to announce any disruption in its opening weekend plans as of Thursday morning. The storm is expected to hit Florida’s Atlantic Coast by Labor Day.

Here are some more details about Disney’s newest attraction:

  • The setting for this new, interactive chapter in the “Star Wars” cannon is called Black Spire Outpost, on the planet Batuu, situated on the Outer Rim of the galaxy. It’s not a location seen in any of the films or TV shows (yet), but it feels very familiar.
  • There are many fun connections to earlier “Star Wars” films and shows throughout Galaxy’s Edge, the biggest being a full-scale, 100-foot-long Millennium Falcon. 
  • Of all the things you can buy, two are build-you-own: droids and lightsabers. These options are so popular that you can and probably should make reservations through the My Disney Experience app or online.

A Florida Wawa is directing traffic because gas lines are so long

Arthur Sanders went to a Wawa in Port St. Lucie, Florida, this morning to top off his gas tank before work, and he got caught up with other Floridians filling up ahead of Hurricane Dorian.  

This is the second hurricane he’s preparing for: He also lived through Hurricane Irma in 2017. 

He still needs to get a few supplies but is mostly ready. He said he’ll put up hurricane shutters on Saturday, and he plans to ride out the storm with nearby family.

Here’s a look at the gas line this morning:

Floridians are emptying store shelves ahead of Hurricane Dorian

Brooke Koontz was at the Walmart in Port Orange, Florida Wednesday night buying things to prepare for Hurricane Dorian. 

When she got there she saw some shelves were already empty.

Thankfully, soon after she got there, employees brought out a pallet of water.

“It was gone in seconds,” she told CNN. “People were trying to race.”  

This is the third hurricane Koontz has prepared for. She lived through Hurricanes Matthew and Irma.  

She says she’s stocked up with about five to seven days of food but still needs to buy some small pools for her dogs in case they are without air conditioning for awhile.

There wasn't an 8 a.m. ET hurricane update today. Here's why.

If you’re looking for the 8 a.m. ET Hurricane Dorian update, it’s not coming.

The next update from the National Hurricane Center will come at 11 a.m. ET.

Here’s why: The National Hurricane Center releases new advisories every three hours — at 2, 5, 8 and 11, both a.m. and p.m. — when tropical storm or hurricane watches and warnings in place.

But Dorian is over water right now, and no area is under a watch or warning.

Under these conditions, the center only releases advisories every six hours: at 5 a.m., 11 a.m., 5 p.m. and 11 p.m.

The 5 a.m. ET advisory is the latest, which reported that Dorian has maximum sustained winds of 85 mph.

Here’s a look at the latest predicted path:

Trump on Dorian: "It will be a very big Hurricane, perhaps one of the biggest!"

President Trump this morning tweeted about Hurricane Dorian, which is forecast to hit Florida’s Atlantic Coast over Labor Day weekend.

“Be prepared and please follow State and Federal instructions,” he said.

Last night, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said he spoke with Trump to give him an update on Dorian:

Here's how Carnival is changing its cruise routes for Dorian

Carnival Cruise Line is making some itinerary changes to avoid Hurricane Dorian.

Here’s a look at how the company is changing its routes:

  • Carnival Sunrise will stop at San Juan tomorrow, instead of Grand Turk. On Saturday it will stop at Amber Cove instead of San Juan. On Sunday, it will dock in Grand Turk, instead of Amber Cove.
  • Carnival Magic will stay at sea today instead of stopping at Amber Cove. It will stop in Nassau tomorrow instead of staying at sea.
  • Carnival Sensation will stay at sea on Sunday instead of stopping in Nassau. On Monday, it will head to Grand Turn instead of Half Moon Cay. It will head to Half Moon Cay on Tuesday and Nassau on Wednesday. 

Florida could feel tropical-storm-force winds as early as Saturday

Parts of Florida could feel tropical-storm-force winds as early as Saturday evening, according to the National Hurricane Center.

The center urged residents to make preparations now ahead of Hurricane Dorian.

Dorian, currently a Category 1 storm, is forecast to grow into a major Category 3 over Labor Day weekend before landing in Florida.

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GO DEEPER

Hurricane Dorian is days away from striking Florida and could be a monster storm by landfall
Dorian could be the strongest hurricane to hit Florida’s east coast since Andrew
Florida is keeping an eye on nursing homes’ generators after Hurricane Irma fatalities
When it’s hurricane season, people check the spaghetti models. Here’s what they are and how to read them
A checklist of what to do – and pack -- when a hurricane’s coming
Everything you need to know to prepare for a natural disaster