The storm is packing winds of 185 mph with gusts of more than 220 mph, according to the agency.
Currently, the “eye of catastrophic Dorian” is over the Abacos Islands and is “heading with all its fury toward Grand Bahama,” another island in the Bahamas, the agency said.
It said, “These hazards will cause extreme destruction in the affected areas and will continue for several hours.”
Video footage posted on social media showed that Dorian was already making an impact in the Bahamas.
Hours before that, the NHC said that Dorian became the strongest hurricane in modern records for the northwestern Bahamas.
The storm is expected to remain a powerful Category 5 or close to it, and “some fluctuations in intensity are likely,” according to the NHC.
Later,“ A slower westward motion should continue for the next day or two, followed by a gradual turn toward the northwest. On this track, the core of extremely dangerous Hurricane Dorian will continue to pound Great Abaco today and the move near or over Grand Bahama Island tonight and Monday,” the NHC said.
“The hurricane should move closer to the Florida east coast late Monday through Tuesday night,” it warned.
As Dorian’s forecasted path shifted to the north and west, states of emergencies have been declared in South and North Carolina as well as Georgia.
Chatham County includes the coastal city of Savannah and the state’s southeastern coast.
“The variables change with every advisory,“ he said. ”This is a marathon, it’s not a sprint.”
The Atlanta Motor Speedway in Hampton, Georgia, also announced that it has opened its facilities to hurricane evacuees if needed, the broadcaster reported.
In Florida, Gov. Ron DeSantis warned residents along that state’s densely populated Atlantic coast, “We’re not out of the woods yet.”
He noted some forecast models still bring Dorian close to or even onto the Florida peninsula. “That could produce life-threatening storm surge and hurricane force winds,” DeSantis said. “That cone of uncertainty still includes a lot of areas on the east coast of Florida and even into central and north Florida, so we are staying prepared and remaining vigilant.”