Tropical Storm Dorian Forms, Forecast to Become Hurricane

In this graphic provided by the National Hurricane Center, the track for Dorian as of 11 a.m. Sunday, Aug. 25th, 2019 (National Hurricane Center via Key News)

There’s a new tropical storm in the Atlantic called Dorian, and it’s predicted to become a hurricane later in the week as it approaches the Caribbean. 

Key Biscayne officials have already started keeping tabs on it because of its track and location. 

“This storm clearly has my attention and it is something we will be monitoring very, very closely,” said Fire Chief Eric Lang.

As of 11 a.m, Sunday, the storm was packing 40 mile-per-hour winds and was showing signs of better organization. Forecasters placed it 465 miles east southeast of Barbados.

The Government of Barbados has issued a Tropical Storm Warning for Barbados and a Tropical Storm Watch for St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

The Government of St. Lucia has issued a Tropical Storm Watch for St. Lucia.

Forecasters at the National Hurricane Center said a turn toward the west-northwest is forecast on Monday. The system is expected to be near the Windward islands by late Monday or early Tuesday.

It’s expected to reach hurricane strength by early Wednesday.  

Dorian is the fourth named storm of the 2019 Atlantic Hurricane Season. By coincidence, it formed on Aug. 24, the exact anniversary of Hurricane Andrew’s landfall in South Florida in 1992.

Lang has been holding hurricane readiness meetings with residents, and an update of the Village’s emergency plan is up for review by the Village Council Tuesday. 

“I’m asking residents, “Do you have a plan? Do you know of anyone with special needs?” Lang said. 

He noted that Key Biscayne will evacuate if County Mayor Carlos Gimenez declares an evacuation, as happened with Hurricane Irma in 2017. 

“Today, when the sun is shining, is the time to review your plan,” Lang said.

This article has been updated with information from the National Hurricane Center as of Sunday morning.