TIMELINE: OIA to remain open as Dorian continues its push west

ORLANDO, Fla. — Hurricane Dorian is continuing to strengthen as it churns in the Atlantic. Channel 9 Eyewitness News meteorologists are tracking the storm live online and on-air. Read live updates below:

11 p.m. update SATURDAY: Hurricane Dorian continues as a Category 4 storm. There was a slight drop in the pressure now to 940 millibars. Maximum sustained winds reached 150 mph, as it continues to move west at 8 mph.

Dorian outer winds have started to affect the Bahamas. Dorian will continue to lose speed and it could come to a near stop Sunday, while hovering over the Bahamas.

The hurricane eye still of forecast to remain over water, but the track has shifted a bit west, toward Florida. You can assure several more shifts, in either direction as Dorian becomes nearly stationary just to our east.

10:35 p.m. update SATURDAY: Orlando International Airport will continue with regular operations Monday ahead of Hurricane Dorian, lifting its planned closure.

9:45 p.m. update SATURDAY:

FEMA officials briefed President Donald Trump, U.S. Sen. Rick Scott and senior White House officials on Hurricane Dorian's developments Saturday at Camp David.

Chief meteorologist Tom Terry will provide in-depth analysis of the updated track live on Channel 9 Eyewitness News, beginning at 10 p.m. Click here to watch it live.

Click here to download the free WFTV news and weather apps.

8:15 p.m. update SATURDAY:

Dorian continues to crawl west at 8 mph. It is forecast to lose forward speed Saturday evening and could move less than 5 mph Sunday and Monday while parked over the Bahamas.

The next 36 hours will lack significant events in movement. There could be some fluctuations in maximum sustained winds as the eyewall goes through replacement cycles.

Evening models have started to show a trend to the west. Although Dorian is losing speed, several models show that it could undergo a slight track shift.

After Monday afternoon, Dorian will take a northerly turn, and it could come close to Florida's east coast.

Volusia County residents can expect constant strong onshore winds for about 48 hours, worsening Monday evening through Tuesday.

Read: Hurricane Dorian: How Gatorland is making preparations for the storm

Storm surge will be significant across northern Brevard, Volusia and Flagler County.

Chief meteorologist Tom Terry will provide in-depth analysis of updated track shifts live on Channel 9 Eyewitness News, beginning at 10 p.m. Click here to watch it live.

Click here to download the free WFTV news and weather apps.

8pm sábado actualización:

Dorian continúa arrastrándose hacia el oeste a 8 mph y se pronostica que continuará perdiendo velocidad durante el sábado por la noche y podría llegar a menos de 5 mph de domingo a lunes, mientras se estaciona sobre las Bahamas.

Las próximas 36 horas carecerán de eventos significativos en movimiento. Podría haber algunas fluctuaciones en los vientos máximos sostenidos a medida que la pared del ojo pasa por ciclos de reemplazo. Los modelos nocturnos han comenzado a mostrar una tendencia hacia el oeste, pero mientras Dorian está perdiendo velocidad, se ejecutarán varios modelos que pueden capturar un ligero cambio de trayectoria.

Después del lunes por la tarde, Dorian tomará más de un giro hacia el norte y podría acercarse a la costa este de Florida. El condado de Volusia puede esperar vientos constantes fuertes desde el mar durante aproximadamente 48 horas, empeorando de lunes a martes. La marejada ciclónica será significativa en el norte de Brevard, Volusia y el condado de Flagler.

6 p.m. update SATURDAY:

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is addressing the state on Hurricane Dorian. Click here to watch his remarks live.

5:30 p.m. update SATURDAY:

Hurricane Dorian -- a Category 4 storm -- has maximum sustained winds of 150 mph as it moves west toward the Bahamas at about 8 mph, chief meteorologist Tom Terry said Saturday afternoon.

A tropical storm watch has been issued for portions of Florida's east coast -- from Deerfield Beach to Sebastian Inlet, Terry said.

The storm is expected to hover over the Bahamas for about 36 hours Sunday and Monday.

The Bermuda High is forecast to shift eastward, allowing Dorian's eye to stay over water.

A trough is expected to pull the storm northward and make it curve, likely bordering the Carolinas through the latter part of next week.

Click here to download the free WFTV news and weather apps.

5 p.m. actualización sábado:

El Centro Nacional de Huracanes emitió su boletín de las 5 p.m. y muestra que Dorian aún mantiene vientos máximos sostenidos de 150 mph a medida que avanza hacia el oeste a aproximadamente 8 mph.

Se emitió una vigilancia de tormenta tropical para partes de la costa este de Florida, desde Deerfield Beach hasta Sebastian Inlet, esto es para la costa del condado Palm Beach al condado de Indian River.
Dorian continuará perdiendo velocidad y se sentará sobre las Bahamas durante aproximadamente 36 horas el domingo y el lunes.

Se espera que la alta presión de las Bermudas se desplace hacia el este permitiendo que el ojo de Dorian permanezca sobre el agua y una vaguada lo empujará hacia el norte y lo curvará, probablemente bordeando las Carolinas durante la última parte de la próxima semana.

4:30 p.m. update SATURDAY:

3:30 p.m. update SATURDAY: 

Several counties have now delayed previous mandatory evacuations. Brevard County officials have now set Monday at 8 a.m. as their mandatory evacuation time for residents living in mobile homes or manufactured housing, those in low-lying or flood-prone areas, those living on the barrier islands, or those with special medical needs.

Flagler County has also postponed evacuation plans until Monday. "The picture is looking better, but we don't want people to let down their guard," said Emergency Management Director Jonathan Lord. "We are continuing to prepare as though we are going to need call for evacuations at some point, but we don't exactly know what the window is."

Volusia County officials have also delayed evacuations for Monday. The evacuations are for those living on the beachside, mobile homes and low-lying areas.

2:00 p.m. update SATURDAY:

Hurricane Dorian continues to be a major hurricane. Its wind speed is only 6 mph from becoming a Category 5 hurricane, chief meteorologist Tom Terry said.

The system will continue to crawl during the next 24 hours. On Sunday, it could be stalled over the Bahamas.

By Monday, the storm should start to turn north-northwest, Terry said.

As the system turns northward, the storm will go through several eyewall cycles, which means that the eye will wobble and could reform farther east or a bit more west.

"Continue to be vigilant and don't let your guard down," digital meteorologist Irene Sans said. "We can breathe a bit better ... but be aware that we will be talking about this storm for about five more days and the suspense is only building."

1:15 p.m. update SATURDAY: Orange County officials held a press conference Saturday updating residents on Hurricane Dorian.

12:45 p.m. update SATURDAY: Channel 9 meteorologist Brian Shields said Central Florida is not yet in the clear from Hurricane Dorian. Tropical storm force winds are still possible across the area.

11:30 a.m. update SATURDAY: Channel 9 meteorologist Brian Shields said Central Florida is in much better shape as Hurricane Dorian continues to track away from Florida's coast.

11 a.m. update SATURDAY: The 11 a.m. track for Hurricane Dorian continues to put the storm tracking farther east.

"That is good news, even along the coast," Channel 9 meteorologist Brian Shields said.

He said the new track doesn't mean Florida is out of the woods, but the new forecast is good news compared to where the storm was tracking earlier in the week.

Shields said coastal communities can continue to prepare for possible hurricane impacts, but that inland communities can "wait and see" for 24 hours to keep an eye on whether the track shifts again.

The 11 a.m. track shows that the storm is continuing to strengthen, with winds of 150 mph as it moves west at 8 mph.

9:15 a.m. update SATURDAY: Gov. Ron DeSantis gave an update Saturday morning on Florida preparations for Hurricane Dorian.

8 a.m. update SATURDAY: The 8 a.m. track continues to keep Dorian skirting the coast of Florida, but Channel 9 meteorologist Brian Shields said that does not make a Florida landfall out of the question.

While the latest tracks have been positive news for Central Florida, Shields said the cone for the storm is still wide and includes much of the Florida Peninsula.

"We take no chances with something like this," Shields said.

7 a.m. update SATURDAY: The National Weather Service tweeted Saturday morning a warning that serious conditions are possible along Florida's east coast.

6:30 a.m. SATURDAY: Gov. Ron DeSantis is expected to provide an update on Hurricane Dorian preparations in Florida at 9 a.m. Stay tuned to WFTV.com to watch him speak live.

5 a.m. update SATURDAY: The updated 5 a.m. track takes Hurricane Dorian farther east, turning north before it hits the Florida coast.

Channel 9 meteorologist Brian Shields said while the track looks like good news for inland residents, it's still too early to know for sure where the storm will go. He said if the storm were to follow the forecasted track, it would still cause significant impacts to the coast.

Shields said he recommends that coastal residents continue their storm prep and get ready to evacuate as needed. On the other hand, he said inland residents in Orange, Seminole, Lake Osceola, Sumter and Marion counties can pause their preparations for now while still staying vigilant.

He said those inland residents should operate with a "wait and see" mentality over the next 24 hours.

4:30 a.m. update SATURDAY:

11 pm. update FRIDAY: Hurricane Dorian has strengthened to a Category 4 and continues to move west at 10 mph, although its track has shifted east. The storms will continue to navigate over very warm waters that will serve as fuel for the storm to continue to strengthen as it moves close toward Florida. Some of the most reliable models still place Dorian as a major category traveling northward over Florida.

HELPFUL LINKS TO HELP YOU PREPARE:

• Are you storm ready? Here's when, where you can get sandbags filled
• Stay informed during a storm: Emergency Operations Centers in Central Florida
• Orlando pet adoption service offering free microchipping in advance of Hurricane Dorian
• New to Florida? 9 helpful tips to get you through a hurricane

Cox Media Group