Taking advantage of the deep warm water in the Caribbean, Hurricane Dorian has now strengthened to a Category 5 storm as it approaches the Bahamas and the southeast coast of the United States.
According to the latest reports, Dorian has winds estimated in excess of 180 mph with a storm surge of 15 to 20 feet making it one of the strongest storms on record in the Atlantic Ocean.
In fact, since 1950 only three hurricanes have had higher recorded winds. Those storms are Allen in 198 with sax winds of 190 mph, Gilbert in 1988 with Max winds of 185 mph, and Wilma in 2005 with max winds of 185 mph.
Notably too is Dorians remarkable organization and distinctive eye wall leading to a pressure measurement of 913 mb which is now lower than Irma’s 914 mb according to CBS News’ Jeff Beradelli.
What’s also stunning when it comes Dorian, was it’s rabid intensification in just a few short days. Starting Friday as a Category 2 (with 105 mph winds), Dorian quickly grew to a high-end Category 4 (with 150 mph winds) on Saturday before reaching a Category 5 on Sunday with those 180 mph winds. The storm also saw an increase of wind speeds of more than 35 mph in less than a 24 period.