Coastal Northeast to be next recipient of Dorian's impacts as storm ventures north
This video shows the vast extent of the damage left behind by Hurricane Dorian on the island of Abaco in the Bahamas on Sept. 3.
After days of unleashing catastrophic impacts in the Bahamas and lurking near the east coast of Florida, Hurricane Dorian will pick up forward speed and make its way near the Carolina coast and then into the waters around the northeastern United States and Atlantic Canada late this week and this weekend.
This weekend the hurricane will be a shell of what it once was in the subtropics: The most intense hurricane in terms of wind on record for so far north over the Atlantic.
Dorian will be steered on a general accelerated path to the northeast late this week. An area of high pressure over the western Atlantic and the jet stream will be the main components for the increasing forward speed.
Impact from Dorian will spread northward along the coast in the Northeast late this week.
What will impact from Dorian be on the mid-Atlantic states?
Compared to what people experienced in the Bahamas, Dorian will be a drop in the bucket in the coastal Northeast, but there will be some impact.
Dorian is forecast to swing well east of the mid-Atlantic coast on Friday.
Tropical storm conditions will spread northward well in advance of the hurricane, even though the center is likely to remain offshore of the northeastern U.S.
This means that Dorian will have some impact from rain, wind and rough seas in the northeastern United States, even though the storm is likely to remain at sea.
Some disruptions to travel are likely with poor visibility for motorists and perhaps some airline delays along the coast.
During the latter part of this week and into this weekend, large swells will move up from the south, associated with Dorian. Northeast winds generated by the hurricane will cause above normal tides, coastal flooding at times of high tide, beach erosion, heavy surf and dangerous rip currents from Virginia to Maine.
As the storm approaches and swings by the North Carolina coast, tropical storm conditions with wind and rain will push northward from southeastern Virginia to the Delmarva Peninsula and southern Virginia on Friday.
Gusts may get strong enough to break tree limbs and cause sporadic power outages in southeastern Virginia.
Some rain and breezy conditions are likely as far inland as Baltimore and Philadelphia, as well as to New York City. A stormy September day is in store for Norfolk, Virginia, Ocean City, Maryland, and Atlantic City, New Jersey, on Friday.
The rain may come down at a fast enough pace to cause urban flooding. Areas around the lower part of the Chesapeake Bay, including the Norfolk, Virginia, area, that are prone to coastal flooding, should expect some roads to go underwater from the combined effect of rain and storm surge.
"Rainfall of 3-6 inches is likely over southeastern Virginia with lesser amounts farther north along the mid-Atlantic coast," according to AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Dave Dombek.
Some beach erosion is likely from Virginia, northward through Long Island, New York.
The weather is forecast to dramatically improve from southwest to northeast across the mid-Atlantic region on Saturday.
Dorian may pass near Cape Cod, Massachusetts, then strike Nova Scotia, Newfoundland
The weather over southern New England will deteriorate on Friday with a driving rain in store from later Friday to Friday night.
There is the risk that Dorian turns northward enough to bring strong tropical storm to hurricane conditions on Cape Cod, Massachusetts, for a time from Friday night to Saturday morning.
"Rainfall of 2-4 inches is likely on Cape Cod and the islands with some urban-style flooding possible," Dombek said.
Even cites such as Providence, Rhode Island; Boston and Portland Maine, can expect a period of stormy conditions on par with a strong nor'easter for a time.
Some over wash of waves that often occurs during a nor'easter can be expected along the north- and east-facing shoreline.
People spending time at the beaches or in small craft should use caution, especially on Friday and Saturday. Dangerous seas and surf are likely with coastal flooding in areas with northern and eastern exposure to the water.
As a non-tropical storm moves across southeastern Canada this weekend, there is a significant chance that Dorian's track will become more northerly, rather than remain northeasterly. The non-tropical storm may capture Dorian and pull it toward land.
People from Nova Scotia to Newfoundland should expect strong nor'easter or hurricane conditions with battering waves, damaging wind gusts and flooding rainfall from Saturday to Sunday.
Cruise, fishing and shipping interests from the mid-Atlantic to New England and Atlantic Canada waters should monitor the track and strength of Dorian into this weekend.
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