Dorian to Enhance Rainfall in Bahamas, South Florida

By Kristina Pydynowski, Senior Meteorologist

July 29,2013; 8:30PM,EDT

 

 

 

While there is a chance that Dorian may restrengthen, the tropical system will still impact those along its path this week with heavy rainfall, regardless of its official classification.
After losing its tropical storm status on Saturday, Dorian is a tropical rainstorm racing westward through the southwestern Atlantic.
With the path of Dorian is forecast to be along the Turks and Caicos, southern Bahamas and South Florida, people in these areas should be prepared for torrential downpours and the risk of low-lying area and urban flooding.

However, AccuWeather.com meteorologists will continue to monitor Dorian since the atmosphere is showing signs of becoming more conducive for Dorian to regain tropical storm strength during the next couple of days.
If Dorian returns to tropical storm status, that would raise the potential for damaging winds and dangerous surf to Turks and Caicos, Bahamas and South Florida. It could also mean heavier rainfall and a greater risk for flooding.
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Even if such restrengthening fails to occur, Dorian will not pass unnoticed to those living along and near its path.
A handful of heavy showers and thunderstorms will continue to graze the the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico through Monday as Dorian and most of its storminess pass by to the north.
More numerous drenching and gusty showers and thunderstorms from Dorian may graze Hispaniola and will spread in a southeast-to-northwest fashion across the Turks and Caicos, southern and central Bahamas and eastern Cuba Tuesday through Wednesday.
Flash flooding and mudslides are a concern, as well as minor tree damage and power outages.
The danger of rough surf will also shift from east to west from the Leeward Islands to the Bahamas through Wednesday.

Dorian is forecast to travel far enough to the northwest Thursday and Friday to enhance showers and thunderstorms across South Florida, including in Miami, Key West and Fort Lauderdale.
For motorists, the accompanying downpours could the visibility and increase the risk of vehicles to hydroplane.
Beyond Thursday, Dorian could make a right hand curve and travel along or just off the Southeast coast. Other options include a westward path into the southern Gulf of Mexico or the system breaking up near Florida.