Hurricane Dorian makes landfall over Cape Hatteras, North Carolina

Published: Updated:
Photo via CBS News
Hurricane Dorian made landfall Friday morning over Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, as a Category 1 storm, the National Hurricane Center said.Nearly 350,000 homes and businesses in North and South Carolina were in the dark as of 7 a.m. ET.

Meanwhile, a massive rescue and relief effort was underway in the northern Bahamas, where there was widespread devastation.

The official death toll in the Bahamas ticked up Thursday night to 30, but that number is expected to soar. And according to one early estimate, the damage could cost up to $7 billion.

Dorian spun off about 15 tornadoes, including one that wiped out mobile homes in North Carolina.

As of 9 a.m. ET, Dorian’s core was about 5 miles northeast of Cape Hatteras, and the storm was moving northeast at 14 mph with maximum sustained winds of 90 mph.

Hurricane-force winds extended outward up to 45 miles from the center and tropical-storm-force winds extended outward up to 220 miles.

dorian-track-5a-090519.jpg
Hurricane Dorian’s projected path as of 5 a.m. EDT on September 6, 2019NOAA
Watches and warnings in effect
A summary of watches and warnings in effect, via the National Hurricane Center.
  • Storm surge warning: From Salter Path, North Carolina, to Poquoson, Virginia; the Pamlico and Albemarle sounds; the Neuse and Pamlico rivers; Hampton Roads, Virginia
  • Hurricane warning: From Surf City, North Carolina, to the North Carolina-Virginia border; the Pamlico and Albemarle sounds
  • Tropical storm warning: From the North Carolina-Virginia border to Fenwick Island, Delaware; Chesapeake Bay from Drum Point southward; tidal Potomac south of Cobb Island; in Massachusetts from Woods Hole to Sagamore Beach; Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts; Nantucket, Massachusetts

A hurricane warning means hurricane conditions were expected. A hurricane watch means hurricane conditions were possible.

A tropical storm warning means tropical storm conditions were expected within 36 hours. A tropical storm watch means tropical storm conditions were possible within 36 hours.

A storm surge warning means there was a danger of life-threatening rising water moving inland within 36 hours. A storm surge watch means there was a possibility of life-threatening rising water within 48 hours.

New York City beaches to close due to rip tides from Dorian

New York City beaches will be closed to swimming and surfing Friday and Saturday due to the dangerous rip tides from Dorian, the city’s Parks Department said Thursday. Swells of up to 10 feet are expected, CBS New York reports.

New York City beaches will close for the season on September 8.

Canadian Hurricane Center issues hurricane watch for Nova Scotia

The Canadian Hurricane Center has issued a hurricane watch, meaning hurricane conditions are possible within the watch area within 48 hours, for all of Nova Scotia.

A tropical storm watch is in effect for Prince Edward Island and for the Magdalen Islands, and for New Brunswick from Fundy National Park to Shediac. A tropical storm watch was also issued for Newfoundland from Francois to Boat Harbour.

Dorian’s core brushing coast of North Carolina

The core of Dorian is brushing the coast of North Carolina late Thursday night, the National Hurricane Center said. Dorian’s core is located about 35 miles southeast of Wilmington, North Carolina and approximately 70 miles southwest of Cape Lookout, North Carolina.

The storm remains a strong Category 2, with maximum sustained winds of 100 mph.

Life-threatening storm surge damaging winds are expected along the North Carolina coast, parts of southeastern Virginia and the southern Cheaspeake Bay. Flash flooding is already occurring and will continue overnight along eastern North and South Carolina and far southeast Virginia overnight.

Jeep stranded in Atlantic Ocean in Myrtle Beach

An abandoned Jeep is being pounded by waves in the Atlantic Ocean in Myrtle Beach as Dorian lashes the area, CBS Wilmington affiliate WWAY reports.

Myrtle Beach Police told WWAY they were notified about the stuck vehicle this morning. Authorities found the car locked and abandoned on the beach but because of weather condition, it isn’t safe to remove the vehicle.

Myrtle Beach Police posted on Facebook that they are aware and working with their team to develop a plan to remove it, but it is not safe at this time.

Death toll in Bahamas rises to at least 30

Speaking to CNN late Thursday, the Bahamas Prime Minister Hubert Minnis said the death toll has risen to 30.

Dorian slammed Abaco Islands in the northern Bahamas. There was widespread devastation to the harbor, shops, workplaces, a hospital and airport landing strips, hampering rescue efforts.

Copyright ©2024 Fort Myers Broadcasting. All rights reserved.

This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without prior written consent.