5 things to know about Tropical Storm Dorian

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Tropical Storm Dorian continues to strengthen as it moves toward the Virgin Islands and is expected to not make a direct hit on Puerto Rico. 

As of 11 a.m. Wednesday, Dorian has sustained winds of 70 mph and gusts of 90 mph. The National Hurricane Center expects the storm to make landfall as a major category 3 hurricane when it reaches Florida early next week. 

1. The current forecast path 

The fact that Dorian will avoid a direct hit on Puerto Rico will keep the storm together. A high pressure system is set to turn the storm north-northwest around Friday. All areas from the Carolinas to the Gulf Coast of Texas should keep their eyes on the storm as it moves toward the lower 48 states. 

RELATED: Tropical Storm Dorian expected to become hurricane Wednesday

The next 24-48 hours will have a lot of changes in the possible intensity of Dorian and the exact path. NOTE: The 5 day exact forecast path has an average error of 200 miles.

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2. A lot WILL still change 

Over the last 24 hours, the path and forecast for what will soon be Hurricane Dorian has taken a complete turn. Puerto Rico will be impacted but the British Virgin Islands will have more of a direct impact. Since the new path is keeping the center of the storm over open warm water, the intensity of the storm has been upgraded to a possible major hurricane that could affect the United States by the end of the weekend into Monday. There is a good consensus leading up to Sunday morning but after that there is a developing split between a turn north or a more westerly path.

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3. Water temperatures are more than favorable 

For a tropical system to survive, surface water temperatures need to be 80°F or warmer. Water temperatures are going to average around 85° which is more than favorable to cause a process called rapid intensification. This simply means that the wind speeds will increase and pressure will quickly drop within a 24 to 48 hour period. This will drive this up to category 3 strength possibly before landfall. That is a major hurricane.

Dorian 2019 is forming closer to the peak of hurricane season giving it a better chance to be a lot more memorable compared to its 2013 counterpart.

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4. This is the second storm named Dorian 

The name Dorian replaced Dean (2007) on the current hurricane list that will recycle every 6 years. Dorian is 2013 became a Tropical Storm on July 22, 2013 and died out off the coast of the Carolinas on August 4, 2013. This never impacted the United States. Dorian 2019 is forming closer to the peak of hurricane season giving it a better chance to be a lot more memorable compared to its 2013 counterpart.

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5. Dorian is the strongest storm of 2019 so far 

This hurricane season has been well below average thus far. Andrea and Chantal lasted as Tropical storms less than to around a day and were well out in the Atlantic. Erin is now a Tropical Depression and lasted only about a day just like Andrea and Chantal. Barry made landfall as a hurricane with sustained winds at 75 mph. This was mainly a disorganized Tropical Storm but did affect the Louisiana coast back in July. Dorian will become a category 1 hurricane by the end of the day and will become the strongest storm of the season thus far likely as early as Thursday.

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