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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Hurricane Dorian: Who's at risk? | Hurricane Dorian: Who's at risk? |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Hurricane Dorian is continuing to batter the Bahamas - and appears to have virtually stalled over the islands. | Hurricane Dorian is continuing to batter the Bahamas - and appears to have virtually stalled over the islands. |
| The slow-moving hurricane is the most powerful storm to hit the Bahamas since records began, bringing sustained winds of up to 165mph (270km/h) at its peak and the risk of storm surges of up to 23ft (seven metres). | |
| It has now been downgraded from the highest, category five level, to category two, but officials say the storm is still producing strong gusts of 140mph and storm surges of 10ft-15ft above normal. | |
| At least five people are reported to have been killed by the storm in the Abaco Islands, in the northern Bahamas. | At least five people are reported to have been killed by the storm in the Abaco Islands, in the northern Bahamas. |
| The US states of Florida, Georgia, North and South Carolina have all issued states of emergency as Dorian edges west. | The US states of Florida, Georgia, North and South Carolina have all issued states of emergency as Dorian edges west. |
| Where has been hit? | Where has been hit? |
| Dorian made landfall on Sunday (1 Sept) and has since moved only a very few miles across Grand Bahama and the Abaco Islands in the north of the Bahamas archipelago. | Dorian made landfall on Sunday (1 Sept) and has since moved only a very few miles across Grand Bahama and the Abaco Islands in the north of the Bahamas archipelago. |
| High winds, heavy rain and flooding seawater are reported to have caused major damage to homes and property on the islands. | High winds, heavy rain and flooding seawater are reported to have caused major damage to homes and property on the islands. |
| The National Hurricane Center described Dorian as "stationary" with maximum sustained winds of 110mph (175km/h), making it a category two on the Saffir-Simpson hurricane scale. | The National Hurricane Center described Dorian as "stationary" with maximum sustained winds of 110mph (175km/h), making it a category two on the Saffir-Simpson hurricane scale. |
| The total number of casualties is not clear as the emergency services have yet to reach some areas. | The total number of casualties is not clear as the emergency services have yet to reach some areas. |
| The Red Cross fears some 13,000 homes have been severely damaged or destroyed by the storm. | The Red Cross fears some 13,000 homes have been severely damaged or destroyed by the storm. |
| Many people in Grand Bahama have been forced to flee to the roofs of their homes to escape the rising floodwaters. | Many people in Grand Bahama have been forced to flee to the roofs of their homes to escape the rising floodwaters. |
| Storm surges could be devastating | Storm surges could be devastating |
| The biggest danger to life and property in Grand Bahama could be from storm surges, which were predicted to be as high as 23ft above normal tide levels - with higher destructive waves. | The biggest danger to life and property in Grand Bahama could be from storm surges, which were predicted to be as high as 23ft above normal tide levels - with higher destructive waves. |
| Storm surges are caused when huge volumes of water are pushed by hurricane-force winds. When they meet land, the water surges inshore at levels far exceeding normal tides. | Storm surges are caused when huge volumes of water are pushed by hurricane-force winds. When they meet land, the water surges inshore at levels far exceeding normal tides. |
| The eastern US states are also bracing for possible storm surges. | The eastern US states are also bracing for possible storm surges. |
| Where is it heading? | Where is it heading? |
| The NHC is expecting Dorian to move closer to the Florida east coast late on Tuesday (3 Sept) and into Wednesday. | The NHC is expecting Dorian to move closer to the Florida east coast late on Tuesday (3 Sept) and into Wednesday. |
| But even if the eye of the storm does not make US landfall, tropical storm and hurricane-strength winds could still blast Florida and Georgia within days and may affect South Carolina later in the week, although the storm is likely to have weakened by then. | But even if the eye of the storm does not make US landfall, tropical storm and hurricane-strength winds could still blast Florida and Georgia within days and may affect South Carolina later in the week, although the storm is likely to have weakened by then. |
| Evacuations have been ordered in some coastal communities of South Carolina and Georgia. | Evacuations have been ordered in some coastal communities of South Carolina and Georgia. |
| Florida Governor Ron DeSantis said the strength of the storm should not be underestimated. | Florida Governor Ron DeSantis said the strength of the storm should not be underestimated. |
| "This storm at this magnitude could really cause massive destruction. Do not put your life in jeopardy by staying behind when you have a chance to get out," he said, urging people to observe evacuation orders when they were issued. | "This storm at this magnitude could really cause massive destruction. Do not put your life in jeopardy by staying behind when you have a chance to get out," he said, urging people to observe evacuation orders when they were issued. |
| Dorian's strength | Dorian's strength |
| At category five, Dorian was the second-strongest Atlantic hurricane on record, with some gusts reaching 200mph (321km/h). It is the fifth Atlantic hurricane to reach the highest category in the last four years. | At category five, Dorian was the second-strongest Atlantic hurricane on record, with some gusts reaching 200mph (321km/h). It is the fifth Atlantic hurricane to reach the highest category in the last four years. |
| Hurricane Irma in 2017 was also category five and caused widespread damage across the Leeward Islands, Caribbean and Florida keys, damaging roads, buildings, airports and harbours. | Hurricane Irma in 2017 was also category five and caused widespread damage across the Leeward Islands, Caribbean and Florida keys, damaging roads, buildings, airports and harbours. |
| Grand Bahama was also hit by category five Hurricane Matthew in 2016 - many residents had yet to fully rebuild their houses before Dorian's arrival. | Grand Bahama was also hit by category five Hurricane Matthew in 2016 - many residents had yet to fully rebuild their houses before Dorian's arrival. |
| How hurricanes happen | How hurricanes happen |