Experts say that Hurricane Dorian will likely remain a Category 2 storm until it passes the Outer Banks according to the National Hurricane Center’s (NHC) latest update.
“Dorian is moving slowly north-northwestward to northwestward … There is basically no change to the track forecast reasoning. Over the next day or so, the hurricane is forecast to gradually turn toward the north as it moves through a break in the subtropical ridge,” according to the NHC.
Tropical-storm force winds are expected as early as Wednesday evening (Sept. 4th, 2019), with the storm’s center expected to pass just 20 miles off the coast of the Wilmington area on Thursday evening into Friday.
States of emergency have been declared across the Cape Fear Region and mandatory evacuation orders have been issued for all barrier islands in the area.
Heavy rain, storm surges, and strong winds are expected and “Tropical storm conditions will begin within the Hurricane Warning area in the Carolinas later today, with hurricane conditions by tonight,” according to NHC.