Florida coast battens down as Dorian gains strength

Forecasters are now saying Hurricane Dorian could be a Category 4 with winds of nearly 140 mph when it is forecasted to hit Florida late Monday or early Tuesday. It is also imperiling the Bahamas, where the storm is expected to hit by Sunday.

Section:Gallery

Fri., Aug. 30, 2019

Lyle Fidgeon boards windows at the Ocean Grill in preparation for Hurricane Dorian, Friday, Aug. 30, 2019, in Vero Beach, Fla. The National Hurricane Center says Dorian could hit the Florida coast as a major hurricane.

Lynne Sladky Associated Press
A container ship heads out to sea into bands of rain as a kitesurfer enjoys the winds off South Beach, Friday, Aug. 30, 2019, on Miami Beach, Fla. All of Florida is under a state of emergency and authorities are urging residents to stockpile a week’s worth of food and supplies as Hurricane Dorian gathers strength and aims to slam the state as soon as Monday as a Category 4 storm.

Wilfredo Lee Associated Press
Beach goers on South Beach check out one of the iconic lifeguard stands as bands of rain fall in the distance, Friday, Aug. 30, 2019, on Miami Beach, Fla. All of Florida is under a state of emergency and authorities are urging residents to stockpile a week’s worth of food and supplies as Hurricane Dorian gathers strength and aims to slam the state as soon as Monday as a Category 4 storm.

Wilfredo Lee Associated Press
Beach goers on South Beach enjoy the turbulent waters as a container ship heads out to sea, Friday, Aug. 30, 2019, on Miami Beach, Fla. All of Florida is under a state of emergency and authorities are urging residents to stockpile a week’s worth of food and supplies as Hurricane Dorian gathers strength and aims to slam the state as soon as Monday as a Category 4 storm.

Wilfredo Lee Associated Press
Opa Locka, Fla. city workers put sandbags in a car, Friday, Aug. 30, 2019. Hurricane Dorian was muscling a chaotic path toward Florida, with officials and residents bracing for the possibility it would unleash its full fury early next week but clinging to the glimmer of hope that the strengthening storm could simply skirt the coastline.

Charles Trainor Jr Associated Press
Residents fill up gas cans at a gas station on Biscayne Boulevard, Friday, Aug. 30, 2019 in Aventura, Fla as they prepare for Hurricane Dorian. Mistakenly inserting a fuel nozzle into a fishing pole slot, a Florida man pumped $60 worth of gasoline onto the deck of his boat and the ground of a gas station, fire rescue officials said.

David Santiago Ap
Opa Locka, Fla., city workers fill sandbags Friday, Aug. 30, 2019. Hurricane Dorian was muscling a chaotic path toward Florida, with officials and residents bracing for the possibility it would unleash its full fury early next week but clinging to the glimmer of hope that the strengthening storm could simply skirt the coastline.

Charles Trainor Jr Associated Press
People fill sandbags at the parking of the Big Easy Casino, Friday, Aug. 30, 2019, in Hallandale Beach, Fla. Hurricane Dorian was muscling a chaotic path toward Florida, with officials and residents bracing for the possibility it would unleash its full fury early next week but clinging to the glimmer of hope that the strengthening storm could simply skirt the coastline.

David Santiago Associated Press
Midnight Express Powerboats employee Ray Vazquez pulls out his boat from the Haulover Marine Center Friday, Aug. 30, 2019, in Miami Beach, Fla. Hurricane Dorian was muscling a chaotic path toward Florida, with officials and residents bracing for the possibility it would unleash its full fury early next week but clinging to the glimmer of hope that the strengthening storm could simply skirt the coastline.

David Santiago Associated Press
Renan Fuentes, left, Kevin Fuentes, right, and his girlfriend Alexia Mikhalides pull out his boat from the Haulover Marine Center, Friday, Aug. 30, 2019, in Miami Beach, Fla. Hurricane Dorian was muscling a chaotic path toward Florida, with officials and residents bracing for the possibility it would unleash its full fury early next week but clinging to the glimmer of hope that the strengthening storm could simply skirt the coastline.

David Santiago Associated Press
Danny Marcello, of Fort Pierce, loads bags of sand in preparation for Hurricane Dorian at Jaycee Park on Hutchinson Island, Friday, Aug. 30, 2019.

Matias J. Ocner Associated Press
Shoppers race to their cars in the rain after shopping at Costco as they prepare for Hurricane Dorian, Friday, Aug. 30, 2019, in Davie, Fla. Hurricane Dorian was muscling a chaotic path toward Florida, with officials and residents bracing for the possibility it would unleash its full fury early next week but clinging to the glimmer of hope that the strengthening storm could simply skirt the coastline.

Charles Trainor Jr Associated Press
Shoppers race to their cars in the rain after shopping at Costco as they prepare for Hurricane Dorian, Friday, Aug. 30, 2019 in Davie, Fla. Hurricane Dorian was muscling a chaotic path toward Florida, with officials and residents bracing for the possibility it would unleash its full fury early next week but clinging to the glimmer of hope that the strengthening storm could simply skirt the coastline.

Charles Trainor Jr Associated Press
Colin Johnson holds back tears as he prepares to board a window at his father’s home in preparation for Hurricane Dorian, Friday, Aug. 30, 2019, in Vero Beach, Fla. Johnson’s father, Larry, unexpectedly died Thursday.

Matias J. Ocner Associated Press
Colin Johnson drills plywood as he prepares to board a window at his father’s home in preparation for Hurricane Dorian, Friday, Aug. 30, 2019, in Vero Beach, Fla. Johnson’s father, Larry, unexpectedly died Thursday.

Matias J. Ocner Associated Press
Colin Johnson, 51, measures a window as he prepares to board a window of his father’s home, Friday, Aug. 30, 2019 in Vero Beach, Fla.. Hurricane Dorian was muscling a chaotic path toward Florida, with officials and residents bracing for the possibility it would unleash its full fury early next week but clinging to the glimmer of hope that the strengthening storm could simply skirt the coastline.

Matias J. Ocner Associated Press
Danny Marcello, from Fort Pierce, loads bags of sand in preparation for Hurricane Dorian at Jaycee Park on Hutchinson Island, Fla. Friday, Aug. 30, 2019. Hurricane Dorian was muscling a chaotic path toward Florida, with officials and residents bracing for the possibility it would unleash its full fury early next week but clinging to the glimmer of hope that the strengthening storm could simply skirt the coastline.

Matias J. Ocner Associated Press
Dewitt Smith, 37, and his son, Knox Smith, 5, fill a wheelbarrow with sand in preparation for Hurricane Dorian at Jaycee Park near their home on Hutchinson Island, Fla., Friday, Aug. 30, 2019. Hurricane Dorian was muscling a chaotic path toward Florida, with officials and residents bracing for the possibility it would unleash its full fury early next week but clinging to the glimmer of hope that the strengthening storm could simply skirt the coastline.

Matias J. Ocner Associated Press
People walk and play in the water on South Beach, Friday, Aug. 30, 2019, at Miami Beach, Fla. All of Florida is under a state of emergency and authorities are urging residents to stockpile a week’s worth of food and supplies as Hurricane Dorian gathers strength and aims to slam the state as soon as Monday as a Category 4 storm.

Wilfredo Lee Associated Press
A cake for Hurricane Dorian is shown at a grocery store, Friday, Aug. 30, 2019, in Dania Beach, Fla. All of Florida is under a state of emergency and authorities are urging residents to stockpile a week’s worth of food and supplies as Hurricane Dorian gathers strength and aims to slam the state as soon as Monday as a Category 4 storm.

Wilfredo Lee Associated Press
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, center, speaks about Hurricane Dorian during a press conference at the Orange County Emergency Operations Center, Friday, Aug. 30, 2019, in Orlando, Fla.

Stephen M. Dowell Associated Press
People walk past a shuttered Chanel store with sandbags in the front doorway in preparation for Hurricane Dorian, Friday, Aug. 30, 2019, along Worth Ave. in Palm Beach, Fla. The hurricane is expected to come ashore on Florida’s east coast early next week.

Lynne Sladky Associated Press
Workers cover stained glass windows with plywood sections at the Santa Maria del Mar Catholic Church in preparation for Hurricane Dorian Friday, Aug. 30, 2019, in Flagler Beach, Fla.

John Raoux Associated Press
A customer fills up her tank as others wait in line for gas at a Costco store in Altamonte Springs, Fla., Friday, Aug. 30, 2019, as central Florida residents prepare for a possible strike by Hurricane Dorian.

Joe Burbank Associated Press
Orange County mayor Jerry Demings briefs county residents on the status of Hurricane Dorian during a press conference at the Orange County Administration building in Orlando, Fla.

Joe Burbank Associated Press
A customer loads plywood in his truck at a Lowes store in Altamonte Springs, Fla., Friday, Aug. 30, 2019, as central Florida residents prepare for a possible strike by Hurricane Dorian.

Joe Burbank Associated Press
Joan Chang, center, gets help filling her bags during a sandbag giveaway in preparation for Hurricane Dorian, Friday, Aug. 30, 2019, in Margate, Fla.

Amy Beth Bennett Associated Press
This GOES-16 satellite image taken Friday, Aug. 30, 2019, at 17:20 UTC and provided by National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, shows Hurricane Dorian, right, moving over open waters in the Atlantic Ocean. Forecasters are now saying Dorian could be a Category 4 with winds of nearly 140 mph when it is forecasted to hit Florida late Monday or early Tuesday. It’s also imperiling the Bahamas, where the storm is expected to hit by Sunday.
Matt Rohrer loads sandbags in the back of his vehicle for his home in preparation for Hurricane Dorian Friday, Aug. 30, 2019, in Flagler Beach, Fla.

John Raoux Associated Press