Dorian likely to become a Cat 3 hurricane
Tropical Storm Dorian officially became Hurricane Dorian at 2 p.m. Wednesday as it went through Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands and was headed toward St. Croix and the U.S. Virgin Islands as a storm that could impact this area early next week depending on a lot of uncertainties.
Escambia County (Ala.) Emergency Management Director David Adams said Wednesday that models being put out by the National Weather Service are 'all over the place' in terms of where the storm will go.
The storm is expected to reach Florida and the Southeastern part of the United States this weekend with most targets of it hitting Florida, Georgia or the Carolinas.
However, Adams said there is a chance the storm could cross the Florida peninsula and end up in the Gulf of Mexico.
“If it crosses the peninsula and reaches the gulf it will intensify in the warm waters,” Adams said. “What direction it takes if it reaches the gulf is anybody's guess at this point.”
Adams said he encourages people to monitor the storm through the National Weather Service and local radio and television stations to get the most up-to-date information.
“They're not saying it will cross the peninsula, but it's possible,” Adams said. “It's wobbled several times and is moving slowly.”
Adams said a cool front heading into the area will affect the storm, but how it affects the storm is unpredictable.
“Right now everything is still up in the air,” he said. “If we are impacted, it will be early next week.”
As of 11 a.m. Wednesday, the storm had wind speeds of 70 mph and it reached the 74 mph threshold to become a hurricane about 2 p.m.
The National Weather Service expects the storm to become a Category 3 Hurricane over the next several days and possibly arrive in south Florida Sunday or Monday.
