TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Floridians, particularly those along the East Coast, are being told to prepare for a major hurricane that could hit the state during the Labor Day weekend.
Dorian, which became a Category 1 hurricane on Wednesday afternoon, is projected to reach the state Sunday or Monday as a potential major storm, with winds topping 110 mph.
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"We've been monitoring this storm with (the State Emergency Response Team) and will continue to watch closely," Gov, Ron DeSantis tweeted. "All Floridians on the East Coast should have 7 days of supplies, prepare their homes & follow the track closely."
DeSantis also advised Floridians to brace for impacts of strong winds, heavy rains and flooding.
Dorian's projected path shifted north of Hispaniola on Wednesday, putting the system away from the island's mountains and into more open water. Earlier in the week, Dorian had been predicted to remain a tropical storm when it reached Florida.
"Once the cyclone reaches the western Atlantic well east of the Bahamas, it will encounter a favorable environment of low shear and warm waters, resulting in a more marked intensification," the National Hurricane Center posted late Wednesday morning. "The NHC forecast is more aggressive than the previous one and brings Dorian to category 3 intensity by the end of the period."
Tropical-storm force winds are expected to reach Florida on Saturday, with the storm expected to make landfall late Sunday or Monday morning. The "cone of probability," which offers a general idea of where the storm could make landfall, stretched Wednesday from around Miami to Savannah, Ga., though it was centered on the East Coast of Central Florida.
Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry said Wednesday his city's Emergency Operations Center is starting to ramp up and would begin full-time operations Thursday morning.
"We've done this before. We've been through this together. This is no time to panic," Curry said during a news conference. "We don't know what will develop in the days ahead, but it's time to know your evacuation zone."
Curry said no changes had been made in plans for the Florida State University-Boise State football game, which is scheduled for 7 p.m. Saturday at TIAA Bank Field in Jacksonville.
Dorian could be the fifth hurricane to impact the state in four years.
In 2016, Hurricane Matthew caused damage as it skirted the East Coast, and Hurricane Hermine knocked out electricity in the Tallahassee area. Hurricane Irma barreled through much of the state in 2017, and Hurricane Michael devastated parts of the Panhandle last year.