‘Nothing stopping’ monster Hurricane Dorian that’s already strengthened to Category 3 from becoming a CATEGORY 5 when it strikes Florida on Labor Day with winds of over 156mph – as more than 7.5 MILLON residents are warned they could be left without power
- A new model predicts that 7.5 million Florida residents will lose power as a result of Hurricane Dorian
- The storm’s maximum sustained winds increased on Friday morning to near 110mph near the Bahamas
- Dorian became an extremely dangerous Category 3 storm on Friday afternoon
- The Trump administration said it is preparing for Dorian’s arrival by shipping supplies to affected areas
- Meteorologists say the storm could be comparable to Hurricane Andrew, which devastated Florida in 1992
- Governor Ron DeSantis declared a state of emergency for all of Florida’s 67 counties on Thursday
- Some meteorologists warned that Dorian could hit as a Category 5 because it has developed an eye
There is nothing stopping Hurricane Dorian from becoming a Category 5 storm when it hits the state’s east coast as early as Monday, meteorologists have claimed.
Some forecasters say there is a chance the storm will become the highest classification on the scale because Dorian has now developed an eye.
‘Hurricane #Dorian has developed an eye…Expecting it to become a major hurricane today,’ said meteorologist Ryan Maue on Twitter on Friday. ‘Nothing currently stopping storm from reaching Category 5. There I said it.’
KRQE meteorologist Christopher Nunley added: ‘Hurricane Dorian developing an eye. Major hurricane likely today. Wouldn’t be surprised if Dorian intensifies into a Category 5 over the weekend. Florida, take this seriously, this is a life-threatening hurricane.’
It comes as 7.5 million Florida residents were warned they could be left without power as a result of Dorian.
A new model, from the University of Michigan, Industrial & Operations Engineering program, predicts at least 35 percent of the Sunshine State’s population will lose electricity.
Dorian is becoming more powerful as it passes the warm waters off of Florida’s coast, and maximum sustained winds increased Friday morning to near 110 mph.
As of 8am on Friday, Dorian was about 260 miles east-northeast of the southern Bahamas. On Friday afternoon, the storm became a Category 3 hurricane.
By the time Dorian hits Florida, it is likely to hit as Category 4 or Category 5 storm. If it becomes a Category 5, Floridians will have to battle wind speeds of more than 156mph.
That makes the storm comparable to Hurricane Andrew, which was was the most destructive hurricane to ever hit Florida where it made landfall, with wind speeds as high as 165mph, killing 65 people and causing $27.3billion in damage.
According to the newspaper, by the time Dorian reaches Kissimmee on Wednesday morning, it will have decreased to a Category 1 storm with winds of 75 mph.
However, because the storm’s track could change, no immediate mass evacuations have been ordered.
Along Florida’s east coast, local governments began distributing sandbags, shoppers rushed to stock up on food, plywood and other emergency supplies at supermarkets and hardware stores, and motorists topped off their tanks and filled gasoline cans.
On Friday morning, Florida Power and Light activated its emergency response plan, saying in a news release that it has secured some 13,000 employees and additional personnel to help restore power after Dorian hits.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis declared a state of emergency for every county and asked President Trump declare a pre-landfall disaster for all 67 counties. He also activated 2,500 members of the National Guard with 1,500 more on standby.
Due to Hurricane Dorian’s uncertain projected path, I am expanding the state of emergency to include all 67 counties throughout Florida,’ DeSantis said Thursday morning.
‘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 .
Most major airlines – including American, Delta, Frontier, JetBlue, Southwest, Spirit and United – have issued travel waiver for portions of Florida and the Bahamas ahead of Dorian.
The US military is also moving aircraft. The US Navy has moved more than 40 planes from its Jacksonville bases to bases in Michigan, Ohio and Texas, CNN reported.
And the US Air Force is moving 16 aircraft from its Tampa base to McConnell Air Force Base in Kansas.
The storm caused some flooding and power outages in the US and British Virgin Islands as it carved its way northwest across the Caribbean earlier this week.
Island-wide blackouts were reported in St Thomas and St John in the US Virgin Islands, along with scattered power outages in St Croix, government spokesman Richard Motta told AP.
In addition, the storm downed trees and at least one electric post in St Thomas, Motta said, adding that there were no reports of major flooding.
‘We are grateful that it wasn’t a stronger storm,’ he said.