UPDATE: 5 p.m. Friday, August 30th, 2019

Hurricane Dorian continues to strengthen as it moves northwest through the open waters of the Atlantic, and it does look as though Dorian will make landfall as a major hurricane along the east coast of Florida.

The latest forecast from the National Hurricane Center shows Dorian reaching Category 4 strength with winds near 140 mph. Approximate landfall will be on Tuesday morning across the southeastern coast of Florida, and there is a chances Dorian may turn north before making landfall.

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The forecast beyond Tuesday shows Dorian weakening and slowly moving north across the peninsula. This will cause severe flash flooding for much of the state. Most models continue a more northerly track up the peninsula, keeping Dorian out of the Gulf of Mexico.

There is a small threat Dorian manages to cross Florida and reach the eastern Gulf. I think this scenario remains on the highly unlikely side and if it does verify the system would stay well east of Acadiana and the state of Louisiana with a secondary landfall for the panhandle area of Florida.