Tropical Storm Watch Issued For 5 MD Counties Due To Dorian

MARYLAND — As Hurricane Dorian churns east of the Georgia coast, the National Hurricane Center posted watches and warnings that extended up to the Chesapeake Bay. After battering the Bahamas and whipping Florida's eastern seaboard with tropical storm-force winds, Dorian is likely to turn north and stay over the Carolinas Thursday through Friday. Maryland may feel the effects of the storm Thursday into the weekend, according to the forecast.

UPDATE: LATEST ON DORIAN IN MARYLAND — WARNINGS ISSUED

Five Maryland counties — Dorchester, Somerset, St. Mary's, Wicomico and Worcester —are under tropical storm watches, the Maryland Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) reported after 5 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 4. A tropical storm watch means tropical storm conditions could occur within 48 hours. Tropical storm-force winds are defined as those 39 to 73 mph.

The tropical storm watch for Maryland beaches says that people there should prepare for limited impacts, such as scattered power outages, hazardous driving conditions and some impassable roads. A window of concern for storm surge lasts from early Thursday afternoon until early Sunday afternoon.

"As Dorian continues tracking northeastward along the coast Thursday night and Friday...windy conditions can be expected across southern MD and the adjacent Bay waters Thursday night and through the day on Friday," according to the forecast discussion for the Baltimore-Washington region released at 9 p.m. Wednesday by the National Weather Service. The peak impact would likely be midday Friday and early afternoon before the storm tapers Friday evening as Dorian heads east, officials said.

"The center of Hurricane Dorian is expected to pass well southeast of Point Lookout, MD, Friday afternoon," officials said in a local statement about the hurricane. "However, there is the potential for hazardous impacts to extend into St. Mary`s County and adjacent waters. There is the potential for strong winds to spread onshore beginning Friday morning continuing through Friday night. Onshore winds ahead of Dorian are expected to raise water levels along the shores of the Chesapeake Bay and lower tidal Potomac River."

Hurricane Dorian was about 130 miles south of Charleston, South Carolina, and moving at 8 mph north-northwest, the National Hurricane Center reported at 10 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 4.

Classified as a category 2 hurricane, Dorian is still packing maximum sustained winds of 110 mph, days after it made landfall Sunday in the Bahamas as a category 5 storm at 185 mph. While the storm will likely weaken a bit, Dorian is expected to stay close to category 2 strength until it passes near or over North Carolina's Outer Banks, according to Wednesday's forecast.

At least 20 deaths in the Bahamas have been attributed to Hurricane Dorian. Two people in Florida died preparing for the hurricane — a 55-year-old man fell trimming a tree and a 68-year-old toppled from a ladder while putting plywood on his windows, according to NBC, which also reported a 61-year-old Virginia man died swimming amid high rip currents in North Carolina.

"Prepare for hazardous wind having possible limited to moderate impacts across central Virginia and the Lower Maryland Eastern Shore," the National Weather Service advised Wednesday. "Also, prepare for locally hazardous surge having possible limited to moderate impacts across the ocean and Chesapeake Bay side of the Eastern Shore and the western shore of the Chesapeake Bay, and tidal rivers and estuaries of eastern Virginia."

Dorian could drop 4 to 6 inches of rain in southeast Virginia and northeast North Carolina, with up to 8 inches possible over northeast North Carolina, officials said. Virginia's Eastern Shore may get 3 to 5 inches. In all cases, heavy rainfall in a short period could lead to flash flooding.

There may be 1 to 3 inches of rain at Maryland beaches, with locally higher amounts possible, according to the tropical storm watch.

Elsewhere in Maryland, less rain is forecast.

"Depending on the exact track of Dorian, rainfall totals along and to the south and east of I-95 could range up to an inch," according to the Baltimore-Washington forecast from the National Weather Service.

Minor tidal flooding is expected and moderate tidal flooding is possible, mainly on Saturday, in St. Mary's County.

A tropical storm watch was issued Wednesday night for the area north of Chincoteague, Virginia, to Fenwick Island, Delaware; the Chesapeake Bay from Smith Point to Drum Point; and the tidal Potomac south of Cobb Island.

At 3 p.m. Wednesday, storm surge and hurricane warnings were extended from North Carolina to the Virginia border. The storm surge warning means that as rising water moves inland from the coastline, life-threatening inundation is possible within the next 36 hours. During a hurricane warning, people should take precautions to protect their life and property.

A tropical storm watch was issued for the coast of Virginia, which joined North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and Florida in declaring a state of emergency. The tropical storm watch runs from the Virginia-North Carolina border north to Chincoteague and the Chesapeake Bay from Smith Point southward.

The National Weather Service forecast has called for potential tropical storm conditions in Ocean City Friday, and MEMA reported the tropical storm watch was issued Wednesday for five counties in Maryland, including Worcester County.

For the fourth day in a row, the risk of rip currents is high at Maryland beaches from the swell. Breaking waves of 3 to 4 feet will result in rough surf conditions and a high risk of rip currents, according to Thursday's beach hazards statement.

"Water levels could begin to rise well in advance of the arrival of strong winds," the National Hurricane Center advised Wednesday morning. "The surge will be accompanied by large and destructive waves," and surge-related flooding can vary, even over short distances.

Here's the projected path of Hurricane Dorian, according to the National Hurricane Center:

• Wednesday — "Dangerously close" to the Florida and Georgia coasts.
• Thursday through Friday morning — "Near or over the coast of South Carolina and North Carolina."

The Maryland Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) is coordinating with Federal Emergency Management Agency officials, local emergency managers and the National Weather Service about Hurricane Dorian and its potential impact on Maryland, MEMA reported.

"Do not focus on the track alone," the National Weather Service advised. "Impacts will occur well outside the center."

These are the key messages for Marylanders regarding Hurricane Dorian, according to MEMA's Executive Director Chas Eby:

• Be vigilant. The storm could change track, and its impact to Maryland residents could change.

• Know Your Zone ahead of time. These are evacuation zones in the event of a hurricane.

Forecast for Maryland Beaches

Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 84 and low around 70. South wind 7 to 14 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%, with storms possible after 9 p.m.

Thursday: Cloudy, with a high near 76 and low around 69. Daytime winds 15 mph and nighttime gusts as high as 28 mph. Chance of showers with thunderstorms possible after 9 p.m. Evening storms could produce heavy rain. Chance of precipitation is 40% during the day and 80% at night. Rain may total 0.1 to 0.25 inch with higher amounts possible in the event of thunderstorms.

Friday: Tropical storm conditions possible. The rain could be heavy at times. High near 75 and low around 65. Chance of precipitation is 90%. About 1 to 2.75 inches of rain possible. Nighttime wind gusts up to 45 mph.

Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 76 and a low around 66.

Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 79 and low around 68.

Forecast for Baltimore-Washington Metro Area

Wednesday: Hot and humid. Mostly sunny, with a high near 91 and low near 68. Scattered showers and thunderstorms mainly between 5 and 8 p.m. Chance of precipitation is 40%.

Thursday: Mostly cloudy, with a high near 78 and low around 65. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

Friday: Mostly cloudy, with a high near 74 and low around 60. Chance of precipitation is 40%.

Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 80 and low around 63.

Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 81 and a low around 63.

RELATED:

• Hurricane Dorian: How To Prepare Maryland Homes, Families
• State Of Emergency Declared In Virginia For Hurricane Dorian
• NC Activates National Guard, SC Evacuations Ahead Of Hurricane Dorian
• Hurricane Dorian Threatens South Carolina, Especially Charleston
• 21 Georgia Counties Under State Of Emergency
• Hurricane Dorian Batters Central Florida Coast On Its Way Out
• Baltimore County Firefighters Help With Hurricane Dorian
• HoCo First Responders In Florida To Help With Hurricane Aftermath
• Maryland Search And Rescue Team Helps FEMA With Hurricane Dorian

Hurricane Impacts South Of Maryland

Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia have declared states of emergency. The most recent was Virginia, which declared a state of emergency Monday.

Damaging winds, long-duration rain, storm surge and tornadoes are among the hazards.

Evacuations are in process along coastal areas in Georgia and South Carolina, which officials say are most likely to be affected by Dorian.

At least seven storm-related deaths in the Bahamas have been reported, according to the BBC.

"We are in the midst of a historic tragedy," Bahamian Prime Minister Hubert Minnis said in announcing the fatalities. The impact of the storm was "unprecedented and extensive," he said.

"The devastation is unlike anything that we've ever seen before," Minnis said. "We're beginning to get on the ground, get our people in the right places. We have a lot of work in the days and weeks and months ahead."

Lia Head-Rigby, who helps run a Red Cross hurricane relief group, told the Associated Press the scene was "apocalyptic" as she flew over it from the air.

"It's total devastation. It's decimated," she said. "It's not rebuilding something that was there; we have to start again."

The Associated Press as well as Patch editors Beth Dalbey, Emily Leayman and Paul Scicchitano contributed to this report.