ATLANTA — Hurricane Dorian has been upgraded to a dangerous Category 4 storm and has shifted its track, now
Dorian currently has sustained winds of 140 mph with gusts of 165 mph.
The storm is still expected to make landfall Monday in Florida and possibly work it's way up the Florida coast.
The center of the storm is currently about 600 miles off the coast of Florida.
8:30 pm SPECIAL DORIAN UPDATE:
— Brad Nitz (@BradNitzWSB) August 31, 2019
Hurricane hunters find that Dorian is now a category 4 hurricane with 130 mph sustained winds. pic.twitter.com/ZHONM2iHWi
We're using the most advanced weather technology to show you Hurricane Dorian's latest path, for Channel 2 Action News Saturday AM.
"This is a well-defined storm. It has a massive eyewall that has formed. All conditions are ripe for it to intensify into a Category 4 storm in the days ahead," said Severe Weather Team 2 Chief Meteorologist Glenn Burns.
Dorian is currently has sustained winds of 140 mph. It is moving north-northwest at about 10 mph.
[DOWNLOAD: WSB-TV's Weather App for alerts on the tropical storm]
By Monday afternoon, the storm will be over the Bahamas.
"It's going to be catastrophic in the northern Bahama islands. Dealing with a Category 4 storm for that length of time, it is going to be unbelievable," Burns said.
Category 4 hurricanes like Hurricane Dorian are extrememly dangerous and cause catastrophic damage. pic.twitter.com/oF5mur3DKy
— Brad Nitz (@BradNitzWSB) August 31, 2019
The storm will then move inland over Florida and move to the north, weakening to a Category 2 storm by Wednesday afternoon.
[READ: How does a hurricane form?]
Right now, we're still monitoring where the storm will go from there. Severe Weather Team 2 Meteorologist Brad Nitz says the latest track increases the threat for Georgia coast.
"The most likely scenario, given the current forecast track, is the storm will hug the coast of north Florida and Georgia," Nitz said. "That would bring hurricane-force conditions -- likely Category 1 conditions."
[READ: What are the differences between hurricane categories?]
That would mean it would be dry across north Georgia.
Nitz said the best-case scenario would be an earlier turn, keeping the center of the storm offshore and putting the coast of north Florida and Georgia on the weaker side of the storm.
There will definitely be adjustments to the storm's track in the days ahead.
On Thursday, Gov. Brian Kemp issued a State of Emergency for several Georgia counties along the coast including Brantley, Bryan, Camden, Charlton, Chatham, Effingham, Glynn, Liberty, Long, McIntosh, Pierce and Wayne.
Kemp said he spoke with President Donald Trump on Friday, who offered his support ahead of the storm.
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Florida Governor Rick DeSantis has declared a State of Emergency for every county in Florida. Officials are warning of life-threatening storm surge and devastating, hurricane-force winds.
A Hurricane Warning is in effect for:
- Northwestern Bahamas
A Hurricane Warning means that hurricane conditions are likely within the watch area.
Cox Media Group
