Dorian strengthens to Category 4 hurricane

Hurricane Dorian was upgraded to a Category 4 storm as it makes its way toward Florida, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) announced Friday evening. 

The NHC said the “extremely dangerous” storm has maximum sustained winds near 130 mph.

#Dorian has strengthened to an extremely dangerous category 4 hurricane. For details go to:https://t.co/PVkIJ0K5Oc

— National Hurricane Center (@NHC_Atlantic) August 31, 2019

“It could be an absolute monster,” Donald Trump said in a video address, adding the White House would send federal support for local disaster relief efforts.

{mosads}Dorian has already passed through the U.S. Virgin Islands and narrowly avoided Puerto Rico. It is expected to hit the northwestern Bahamas on Sunday before finally reaching Florida on Monday, according to the NHC.

“Additional strengthening is forecast, and Dorian is anticipated to remain an extremely dangerous major hurricane while it moves near the northwestern Bahamas and approaches the Florida peninsula into early next week,” the NHC said earlier Friday when it declared Dorian a Category 3 storm.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) has already declared a state of emergency, asking residents to prepare themselves with at least seven days’ worth of supplies. He’s also requested President Trump declare a pre-landfall disaster for all of the state’s 67 counties.