* As of 11 a.m. ET Sunday, the National Hurricane Center said Dorian was a Category 5 storm
* Hurricane Dorian became the strongest hurricane on record in the Northwestern Bahamas, the National Weather Service said Sunday morning.
* “Maximum sustained winds have increased to near 180 mph (285 km/h) with higher gusts,” the agency said in an update posted Sunday morning. “Dorian is a extremely dangerous category 5 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale.”
* Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 45 miles from the center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 140 miles.
* States of emergency are in effect for all of Florida, North Carolina and South Carolina, along with 12 counties in Georgia.
* Storm surge and hurricane watches and tropical storm warnings are in effect for portions of the Florida east coast. Life-threatening storm surge and dangerous hurricane-force winds are possible along portions of the Florida east coast through mid-week, as only a slight deviation to the left of the official forecast would bring the core of Dorian near or over the coast. Residents should listen to advice given by local emergency officials.
* There is an increasing likelihood of strong winds and dangerous storm surge along the coasts of Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina later this week. Residents in these areas should continue to monitor the progress of Dorian.
