Still a hurricane, Dorian begins move toward US coast

By Dorie Cox

UPDATE Sept. 3 at 5:30 p.m.

The Port of Miami, Miami River, and Port Everglades are safe for marine traffic and operations and the Captain of the Port has lifted Port Condition Zulu. The Port of Palm Beach and The Port of Fort Pierce will remain closed.

According to a U.S. Coast Guard press release, “There are no restrictions to the Port of Miami and Port Everglades, however, bridge reopening process is still underway and some bridges may not be able to open until evening time or tomorrow.”

The Captain of the Port anticipates lifting Port Condition Zulu from Port of Palm Beach and Fort Pierce once tropical storm force winds subside and port assessments are completed.

Questions should be directed to the Marine Transportation System Recovery Unit at (305) 535-4553 and Marine Safety Information Bulletin updates are posted on Homeport at homeport.uscg.mil/miami under “Port Conditions”. 

The COTP may be reached at telephone +1 (305) 535-4472, or via Channel 16 VHF FM Marine Radio through Coast Guard Sector Miami.

“Port Everglades is open and fully operational. The first vessel is scheduled to arrive at 6 p.m. tonight,” according to a press release from Port Everglades.

ORIGINAL POST Sept. 3 at 11 a.m.

Hurricane Dorian is moving northwestward and growing in size with dangerous winds and life-threatening storm surge continuing on Grand Bahama Island in The Bahamas, according to the National Hurricane Center’s 11 a.m. update. Major impacts are being reported as the status of damage and injuries on the islands of Abaco and Grand Bahama are still being assessed, but at least five deaths have been confirmed, according to authorities.

Meanwhile, as the storm begins its expected northward turn along the U.S. Atlantic coast, marine businesses are on watch. Some rain and wind are being reported from Fort Pierce, about 70 miles north of West Palm Beach.

“It’s not bad, just some squalls of 40 mph with rain, then clear and sunny for an hour,” said Buddy Haack, operations manager at Fort Pierce Yacht and Ship at 11:30 a.m.

He reported steady winds at 17 mph and said NOAA’s National Hurricane Center expects the area “will feel the worst at 3 p.m.”

The storm is moving northwest at 2 mph as of this morning’s 11 a.m. update. Speeds are expected to increase sometime today.

The first major hurricane of the Atlantic season has kept parts of the Caribbean, the Bahamas and the U.S. Atlantic coast on edge since becoming a tropical wave on Aug. 24. It reached Category 5 status before making landfall in the northern Bahamas. It was downgraded to a Category 2 this morning. 

Storm surge warnings and watches are issued throughout South Carolina and North Carolina, by the NHC.

Another weather system, Tropical Depression Seven, is expected to strengthen to a tropical storm by Wednesday, according to NOAA’s Hurricane Center 10 a.m. report. The location is 23.6°N 94.9°W and is moving west at 7 mph with minimum pressure of 1004 mb and maximum sustained winds 35 mph.

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