SAVANNAH, Ga. — As of Tuesday night, Hurricane Dorian regained strength as a Category 3 storm.
[WEDNESDAY UPDATES: Hurricane regains strength, now Cat. 3 as it pushes toward Carolinas]
Severe Weather Team 2 said Wednesday would be the greatest day for Dorian's impacts on Georgia, but the core of the hurricane has, so far, stayed well offshore. The primary threats are flooding, power outages and falling trees.
A tropical storm warning remains in effect for the entire Georgia coast.
Severe Weather Team 2 is tracking Dorian and the tropical storm conditions Georgia coast will feel, on Channel 2 Action News.
[DOWNLOAD: WSB-TV's Weather App for severe weather alerts]
LIVE UPDATES:
10:59 p.m.
Hurricane Dorian has regained its strength and is now a Category 3 storm.
Hurricane Dorian has regained category 3 strength off the Georgia coast. It is now a major hurricane.
— Brad Nitz (@BradNitzWSB) September 5, 2019
The new track on Channel 2 at 11 pm. pic.twitter.com/dgVe3iYW5S
8:52 p.m.
Hurricane Dorian appears to be gaining steam. The hurricane could become a Category 3 storm again.
Pressure is down 5 mb and wind speed is up. Dorian may become a category 3 major hurricane with 115 mph sustained wind soon. pic.twitter.com/246BfrJVRJ
— Brad Nitz (@BradNitzWSB) September 5, 2019
8:40 p.m.
Hurricane Dorian is showing signs of more strengthening, central pressure is dropping. Its possible this regains major (category 3) hurricane strength tonight. pic.twitter.com/AkQi6Guikg
— Brad Nitz (@BradNitzWSB) September 5, 2019
7:02 p.m.
Hurricane Dorian is Now centered about 100 miles east of St. Mary’s, GA.
— Brad Nitz (@BradNitzWSB) September 4, 2019
Dry air just west of the hurricane means there’s not much inland penetration of the outer bands. Coastal impacts will primarily be storm surge flooding and tropical storm force wind. pic.twitter.com/4UiPNz5Wcx
5:05 p.m.
Dorian's winds have intensified slightly.
Dorian's winds have intensified slightly at 5 pm. Sustained at 110 mph, gusts to 130 mph. https://t.co/ESNfRKKjQT
— Brad Nitz (@BradNitzWSB) September 4, 2019
5:00 p.m.
Flooding, power outages & falling trees remain the biggest threats along the Georgia coast, local leaders say. A look at conditions in Savannah & Tybee Island, Live at 5 @wsbtv pic.twitter.com/Sx40nqXP8t
— Chris Jose (@ChrisJoseWSB) September 4, 2019
3:57 p.m.
Severe Weather Team 2 meteorologist Brad Nitz gives detailed look at the latest storm surge flood forecast.
Latest storm surge flood forecast from the NHC was issued at 11am today. Yellow is 3-6 feet, orange is 6 feet+ above ground.
— Brad Nitz (@BradNitzWSB) September 4, 2019
This highlights the Savannah and Tybee Island area, but the entire Georgia coast will have similar impacts this evening through tonight.
Next update 5pm. pic.twitter.com/4vkSkyoX1o
2:45 p.m.
GEMA says about 5,600 people are currently in evacuation shelters
GEMA reports some 5600 people have sought refuge from Hurricane Dorian in 25 shelters, but they have room for twice that number. pic.twitter.com/mTYNrTRqYb
— Richard Elliot (@RElliotWSB) September 4, 2019
2 p.m.
Our crews along the coast are starting to see deteriorating conditions.
Past high tide now on St Simons Island and Glynn County EMA reports no major issues . More bands coming in as #hurricanedorian continues to pass . @wsbtv pic.twitter.com/A6vgfLkqPO
— Tony Thomas (@TonyThomasWSB) September 4, 2019
Here’s a look at the Savannah River along River Street. #Dorian @wsbtv pic.twitter.com/mmdeJ7k2Gy
— Chris Jose (@ChrisJoseWSB) September 4, 2019
1:30 p.m.
Tropical Storm force winds with gusts of 40 mph hitting parts of the Georgia coast.
Tropical storm force winds now with gusts of 40 mph in Brunswick, St. Simons Island and St. Mary. pic.twitter.com/h0uCRzswOC
— Eboni Deon, WSB (@EboniDeonWSB) September 4, 2019
1:00 p.m.
Governor Kemp holds news conference with state and federal officials as Hurricane Dorian moves along the Georgia coast.
The governor announced they’re in the process of reversing contraflow on I-16, but its reopening so emergency vehicles can get to storm stricken areas. They’re asking people to stay off 16 until the storm has passed. pic.twitter.com/0wWSAbZwGg
— Richard Elliot (@RElliotWSB) September 4, 2019
12:45 p.m.
Here are the potential storm surge totals coastal counties could see over the next 48 hours.
Storm surge is the abnormal rise in sea level from onshore winds in a storm. SE GA can expect 3-5 ft surge today. This will not only impact barrier islands, but also force saltwater into river inlets. Savannah River is forecast to crest the 3rd highest. pic.twitter.com/25HArAJYjn
— Katie Walls (@KatieWallsWSB) September 4, 2019
12:00 p.m.
A news conference with Gov. Brian Kemp and FEMA officials has been pushed back to 1 p.m. We'll be streaming the news conference live on WSBTV.com and our WSB-TV app.
11:19 a.m.
Right now, heavy rain and tropical storm force wind gusts are hitting the Georgia coast. Here is the latest information from the 11 a.m. advisory:
DORIAN UPDATE: #Dorian is still a 105 mph hurricane as of 11am -- the bands of heaviest rain are JUST off the Georgia coast.
— Brian Monahan, WSB (@BMonahanWSB) September 4, 2019
The track remains overall a good story for Georgia -- yes, there will be storm surge and gusty wind, but the worst stays east! pic.twitter.com/NYlF9ynNDa
11:12 a.m.
The tropical storm force winds are expected for the rest of the day.
Tropical storm force winds expected for coast of Georgia today and late afternoon. By this evening winds could gust to nearly 60 mph along immediate coastline. pic.twitter.com/ofyMyCFE8c
— Eboni Deon, WSB (@EboniDeonWSB) September 4, 2019
9:05 a.m.
Gould’s Inlet on St. Simons Island . Beach erosion beginning as the early bands of Dorian hit the Georgia Coast . @wsbtv pic.twitter.com/ur5nmZkpy5
— Tony Thomas (@TonyThomasWSB) September 4, 2019
8:44 a.m.
Here is the updated map of Georgia counties that are under a State of Emergency.
Early this morning, I expanded the State of Emergency to nine more inland counties ahead of Hurricane #Dorian to facilitate storm response and recovery. There are now 21 counties under an emergency declaration. Read Executive Order 09.04.19.01 > https://t.co/JifpgpbbyS. #gapol pic.twitter.com/C8lEKk8YaS
— Governor Brian P. Kemp (@GovKemp) September 4, 2019
7:37 a.m.
Tropical storm force wind is starting to hit Brunswick:
Wind now gusting to 40 mph in Brunswick -- that's tropical storm force. But these are gusts -- not sustained wind... and that's great news.
— Brian Monahan, WSB (@BMonahanWSB) September 4, 2019
We'll keep a close eye on high tide as we head toward early afternoon for storm surge. Core of #Dorian safely offshore. @wsbtv pic.twitter.com/2VEfQtKWT3
6:55 a.m.
A big concern with Dorian? The storm surge threat. It's possible some areas could see 3 to 6 feet.
DORIAN SURGE: We expect 3-6 feet of surge at high tide (one is midday/midnight) -- but most areas will likely be on the LOW end of this.
— Brian Monahan, WSB (@BMonahanWSB) September 4, 2019
The difference between the red/blue lines is the tidal surge already -- it's about 2.5 feet near Savannah. pic.twitter.com/VOlYq0SI4v
6:10 a.m.
Channel 2's Tony Thomas is live in St. Simons Island where he is starting to see bands of Dorian move in.
Hello Dorian! The first outer bands of #hurricanedorian reach the Georgia coast . It’s now raining on St. Simons Island . @wsbtv pic.twitter.com/4Ol87I0vo4
— Tony Thomas (@TonyThomasWSB) September 4, 2019
5:51 a.m.
Gov. Brian Kemp announced he is expanding the state of emergency to include 9 new counties: Appling, Bacon, Bulloch, Clinch, Echols, Evans, Screven, Tattnall & Ware
Based on 5 AM forecast for #Dorian, I've issued an Executive Order expanding the State of Emergency to include Appling, Bacon, Bulloch, Clinch, Echols, Evans, Screven, Tattnall & Ware Counties. Tropical storm winds are expected in these areas. Price-gouging is prohibited. #gapol pic.twitter.com/sTmVTPO6fd
— Governor Brian P. Kemp (@GovKemp) September 4, 2019
5:35 a.m.
Georgia coast is now feeling the effects from Dorian.
Conditions will continue to deteriorate along the GA coast today, as the wind and waves pick up. 39+ mph winds are expected in SE GA later today through Thursday AM. Notice 58+ mph winds are possible tonight. pic.twitter.com/YK1Ii2HSgH
— Katie Walls (@KatieWallsWSB) September 4, 2019
Initial heavy rain band making its way onshore along the Georgia coast now -- this is some of the lightning Tony Thomas says he was seeing in Saint Simons.#Dorian is here -- but fortunately passing far enough offshore to keep hurricane conditions away from Georgia! @wsbtv pic.twitter.com/ucCuD7YZTF
— Brian Monahan, WSB (@BMonahanWSB) September 4, 2019
5:13 a.m.
Walls is breaking down the latest path expected for Hurricane Dorian over the next 36 hours.
Wednesday 5AM UPDATE -- Cat. 2 #Dorian will maintain its Cat. 2 status through the next 36 hrs parallel to GA & SC, then gradually weaken to Cat. 1 as it nears southern NC, near Carolina Beach and Wilmington area beaches Friday morning. pic.twitter.com/p9l4vYcWMd
— Katie Walls (@KatieWallsWSB) September 4, 2019
5 a.m.
The latest advisory shows Dorian moving NNW at 8 mph with wind at 105 mph and 125 wind gusts.
4:51 a.m.
#Dorian is passing off the Georgia coast -- that will bring tropical storm conditions there later today. But the core of the hurricane will stay well offshore... and that's great news! @wsbtv https://t.co/ITHvvOn7O4
— Brian Monahan, WSB (@BMonahanWSB) September 4, 2019
4:36 a.m.
Walls says storm surge and strong rip currents are among the main concerns for southeast Georgia.
SE GA IMPACTS:
— Katie Walls (@KatieWallsWSB) September 4, 2019
-Tropical Storm Force Winds
-Storm Surge 3-6 ft
-Waves 8-12 ft
-Heavy rain, esp. east of I-95: 3-6"
-Rip Currents https://t.co/llGGSfCRo2
4:34 a.m.
A tropical storm warning remains in effect Wednesday for the Georgia coast.
Tropical storm warning all along the Georgia coast this morning -- awaiting a new advisory on #Dorian at 5am. @wsbtv pic.twitter.com/zSyDrhGDnf
— Brian Monahan, WSB (@BMonahanWSB) September 4, 2019
3:46 a.m.
Check this out - at least 2 FEET of rain fell on parts of the Bahamas (plus storm surge up to 23 feet + waves on top of that.) @NASA’s IMERG storm-total rain accumulation over parts of Grand Bahama and Abaco islands have exceeded 24 inches according to NASA satellite estimates. pic.twitter.com/QYvRTKKI22
— Katie Walls (@KatieWallsWSB) September 4, 2019
3:40 a.m.
Checking wind on the Georgia coast -- gusting in the 25-30 mph range now with sustained wind around 15-20.
— Brian Monahan, WSB (@BMonahanWSB) September 4, 2019
That will come up over the next several hours.
The worst of #Dorian will pass well offshore -- that's a good thing!
3:37 a.m.
Tropical storm conditions will deteriorate along our GA coast later this morning... with increasing risk of strong wind gusts/surge.
— Brian Monahan, WSB (@BMonahanWSB) September 4, 2019
The day of greatest #Dorian impacts on Georgia is today.
Cox Media Group