Tropical Storm Dorian update for Wednesday 8/28, 11 a.m.

**Tropical Storm Dorian Update for Wednesday (8/28) at 11:00am**

Storm FAQ:  https://updates.emergency.ufl.edu/2019/08/28/storm-preparation-faq/

At the 11 a.m. advisory, Tropical Storm Dorian was located 25 miles southeast of St. Croix with maximum sustained winds of 70 mph. Strengthening to a hurricane is expected later today.

The storm is forecast to move near the U.S. and British Virgin Islands and then continue over the open Atlantic well east of the southeastern Bahamas before nearing the Florida coast late this weekend or early next week.

No watches or warnings are currently in place for Florida, but those could be issued beginning Thursday. The official National Hurricane Center track brings Dorian near the Brevard and Volusia county coasts by Monday morning as Category 3. Remember, the average five-day track error is around 200 miles.

It is too soon to determine exact local impacts, but the risk of heavy rains and wind for parts of Central and North Florida is increasing for late this week into early next week. Gainesville currently has a 34% chance of experiencing sustained tropical storm force winds, and that percentage is expected to increase over time. Rain totals will vary depending on eventual track and intensity. Currently, Gainesville is forecast to receive 4 to 5 inches of rain over the next seven days.

All UF units in the peninsula and especially Central and North Florida, including campus, should review their tropical weather plans and be prepared to implement this week.

Updates will be posted daily unless circumstances warrant more frequent updates.