03/28/2024
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Steven Pfaff, Warning Coordination Meteorologist with the National Weather Service announced today around 11 a.m. Hurricane, Tropical Storm, and Storm Surge Watches for portions of northeast South Carolina and southeast North Carolina.

Here’s the quick update from Mr. Pfaff:

-HURRICANE WATCH is now posted from the South Santee River, SC northward through Surf City, NC including: Georgetown, Horry, Brunswick, New Hanover, and Pender Counties

-STORM SURGE WATCH is now in effect from the South Santee River, SC northward through Surf City, NC including: Georgetown, Horry, Brunswick, New Hanover, and Pender Counties

-TROPICAL STORM WATCH is now in effect for inland counties including:  Williamsburg, Florence, Dillon, Marion, Columbus, Robeson, and Bladen counties

Update from NOAA NWS National Hurricane Center around noon today:

…DORIAN FINALLY MOVING NORTHWESTWARD AND GROWING IN SIZE…
…DANGEROUS WINDS AND LIFE-THREATENING STORM SURGE CONTINUES ON GRAND BAHAMA ISLAND…

A Hurricane Warning is in effect for Grand Bahama and the Abacos Islands in the northwestern Bahamas, and from Jupiter Inlet FL to Ponte Vedra Beach FL, and from north of Edisto Beach SC to South Santee River SC. A Hurricane Watch is in effect from north of Ponte Vedra Beach FL to Edisto Beach SC,north of South Santee River SC to Duck NC including Albemarle and Pamlico Sounds. A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect from north of Deerfield Beach FL to Jupiter Inlet FL and from north of Ponte Vedra Beach FL to Edisto Beach SC. A Tropical Storm Watch is in effect for Lake Okeechobee.

Tropical storm and hurricane conditions will continue on Grand Bahama Island through tonight. Hurricane conditions are expected within the Hurricane Warning area in Florida by this evening. Hurricane conditions are possible in the Hurricane Watch area as early as Wednesday and could spread northward within the watch through Thursday. In South Florida, tropical storm conditions are expected within the Tropical Storm Warning area through today. Along the coast of northeastern Florida and Georgia, tropical storm conditions are expected within the Tropical Storm Warning area on Wednesday.

A Storm Surge Warning is in effect from Jupiter Inlet, FL to South Santee River, SC. A Storm Surge Watch is in effect from north of South Santee River, SC, to Cape Lookout, NC. The combination of a dangerous storm surge and the tide will cause normally dry areas near the coast to be flooded by rising waters moving inland from the shoreline.
Flagler/Volusia County Line FL to Cape Lookout NC…4 to 7 ft
Jupiter Inlet FL to the Flagler/Volusia County Line FL…3 to 5 ft

Hurricane Dorian is centered as of 11 a.m .EDT about 45 miles (70 km) north of Freeport, Grand Bahama Island and about 105 miles (170 km) east of Ft. Pierce, Florida. Dorian is moving toward the northwest near 2 mph (4 km/h), and a slightly faster motion toward the northwest or north-northwest is expected later today and tonight. A turn toward the north is forecast by Wednesday evening, followed by a turn toward the north-northeast Thursday morning. On this track, the core of extremely dangerous Hurricane Dorian will gradually move north of Grand Bahama Island through this evening. The hurricane will then move dangerously close to the Florida east coast late today through Wednesday evening, very near the Georgia and South Carolina coasts Wednesday night and Thursday, and near or over the North Carolina coast late Thursday and Thursday night.

Data from reconnaissance aircraft indicate that the maximum sustained winds are near 110 mph (175 km/h) with higher gusts. Dorian is expected to remain a powerful hurricane during the next couple of days. Data from aircraft and buoys indicate that the hurricane is growing in size. Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 60 miles (95 km) from the center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 175 miles (280 km).

Dorian is expected to produce the following rainfall totals through Friday:
Northwest Bahamas…Additional 2 to 4 inches, isolated storm
totals over 30 inches.
Coastal Carolinas…5 to 10 inches, isolated 15 inches.
Atlantic Coast from the Florida peninsula north of West Palm Beach through Georgia…3 to 6 inches, isolated 9 inches.
Southeast Virginia…2 to 4 inches, isolated 6 inches.
This rainfall may cause life-threatening flash floods.

The next complete advisory will be issued by NHC at 5 p.m. EDT with an intermediate advisory at 2 p.m. EDT – www.hurricanes.gov

Related Articles:

https://bladencounty.org/prepare-horses-in-bladen-county-for-hurricane-season/

https://bladencounty.org/ncdot-announces-updates-on-road-closings/

https://bladencounty.org/disaster-recovery-information-sessions-postponed-due-to-hurricane-dorian/

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