Dorian closes in on Bahamas as dangerous Category 5 storm
McLEAN'S TOWN CAY, Bahamas (AP) — Hurricane Dorian pounded the northern Bahamas on Sunday as the catastrophic Category 5 storm barreled toward the islands with 180 mph winds, while authorities made last-minute pleas for those in low-lying areas to evacuate before it's too late.
Hundreds hunkered down in schools, churches and other shelters as officials recognized there were not many structures on higher ground on the largely flat archipelago southeast of Florida. Power and water outages were reported, with crews working in some communities as authorities warned that all government employees will stay indoors once winds reach 40 mph.
Millions from Florida to the Carolinas kept a wary eye on the slow-moving Dorian amid indications it would veer sharply northeastward after passing the Bahamas and track up the U.S. Southeast seaboard. But authorities warned that even if its core did not make U.S. landfall and stayed offshore, the potent storm would likely hammer U.S. coastal areas with powerful winds and heavy surf.
The National Hurricane Center in Miami said Dorian's maximum sustained winds have increased to 180 mph (289 kph), up from 175 mph (281 kph). It is moving west at 7 mph (11 kph). "Catastrophic conditions" are occurring in The Abaco Islands and expected across Grand Bahama later in the day, the center said.
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