The advisory said that Dorian was moving northwards at almost 7 mph (11 km/h).
The NHC said that over the next 12 hours, Dorian is expected to fluctuate in intensity, after which it is forecast to turn north-northeast and slowly weaken on Thursday. Earlier reports said that Dorian could intensify to a Category 4 storm again Thursday.
On the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale, Category 3 hurricanes are classified as storm systems in which register sustained maximum winds speeds of 111-129 mph (178-208 km/h). Category 4 systems register sustained maximum winds speeds of 130-156 mph (209-251 km/h).
Dorian could make landfall in North Carolina on Thursday night or Friday, according to forecasts.
The Miami-based NHC said at 8 p.m. EST that Dorian could strengthen again to a Category 4 by Thursday because it is hovering over warm waters, a key ingredient in hurricane intensity, NHC meteorologist Lance Wood said.
Dorian has already claimed 20 lives in the Bahamas, where it pummelled the tropical islands for days as a Category 5 storm—the most powerful hurricane ever to make landfall in the island nation.
The NHC issued a storm surge warning that covered the whole length of the coasts of Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina and extending to Hampton Roads in southern Virginia.
- Mouth of St. Mary’s River to Poquoson VA
- Pamlico and Albemarle Sounds
- Neuse and Pamlico Rivers
- Hampton Roads
- North of Savannah River to the North Carolina/Virginia border
- Pamlico and Albemarle Sounds
- Mouth of St. Mary’s River to Savannah River
- Mouth of St. Mary’s River to Savannah River
- North Carolina/Virginia border to Chincoteague VA
- Chesapeake Bay from Smith Point southward
- North of Chincoteague VA to Fenwick Island DE
- Chesapeake Bay from Smith Point to Drum Point
- Tidal Potomac south of Cobb Island
