Daytona Beach, FL - The fury of Hurricane Dorian is now taking aim at the Bahamas, while a slightly more optimistic forecast shows tracks pulling the storm east.
The National Hurricane Center is now saying that Dorian's winds have increased to 150 mph while the storm crawls west at 8 mph towards the Northwestern Bahamas.
Some fluctuations in intensity are likely, but Dorian is expected to remain a powerful hurricane during the next few days.
Over the past few hours, forecast models continued to pull Dorian away from the east coast and farther into the Atlantic, placing the eye miles off of the coast of the Florida peninsula.
Despite the new predictions, the east coast is still within the cone of uncertainty and effects can still be felt from the storm. Soon, Dorian is expected to slow down more before turning north to continue up the coast.
The storm is still a Category 4 hurricane, but by Tuesday morning, Dorian is expected to weaken back into a Category 3.
Aug. 30, 5:40 p.m. #HurricaneDorian update
— Volusia EMER MGMT (@VCEmergencyInfo) August 30, 2019
At this point, the timeline for any mandatory evacuations is expected to take place between noon Sunday, Sept.1, and noon Monday, Sept. 2. However, if you have a place to go, you do not need to wait for an evacuation order to leave.
No mandatory evacuations are in effect yet, but Volusia and Flagler county officials are aiming for evacuations to begin starting on Sunday, with Volusia also aiming for Monday.
Daytona Beach Shores is issuing a voluntary evacuation and officers plan on closing the Dunlawton Bridge when winds reach a sustained 39 mph.
When a mandatory evacuation is issued, pnly residents, business owners and persons that have legitimate business on beachside from north Daytona Beach Shores city limits to Ponce Inlet will be allowed over. Vehicles displaying a Daytona Beach Shores or Ponce Inlet pass will be expedited over the bridge. Officers manning the bridge during the mandatory evacuation will stop any vehicle without a pass.
If the occupants cannot prove residency or legitimate business, they will not be allowed access. Anyone with a beachside address north of Daytona Beach Shores north city limits will need to use a different bridge.
Residents and business owners are urged to report to the Daytona Beach Shores Department of Public Safety to receive their bridge passes. Business owners can obtain passes for employees who will need access. The Daytona Beach Shores Department of Public Safety has passes available 24/7 in the main lobby. You must bring proof of residency.
News Daytona Beach will monitor the tropics and provide updates as soon as possible when they’re available.
Text STORM to 51879 for the latest reports regarding Hurricane Dorian.
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