Hurricane Dorian Turns North: What It Means For Long Island

Hurricane Dorian packed 185 mph sustained winds as it pummeled the Bahamas Sunday night. The Category 5 storm will move dangerously close to the Florida's east coast late Monday through Tuesday night, the National Hurricane Center says.

Here on Long Island, there's increasing confidence mid-to-late this week for increased waves, high surf and dangerous rip currents from Dorian, but the National Weather Service says it's still too early to detail any rain and wind forecasts for the region that far out.

Forecasters said Dorian could reach Georgia's coast around 8 a.m. Wednesday as a major hurricane with wind speeds over 110 miles per hour. From there the predicted path of the storm spins north along the East Coast, reaching southern Virginia by 8 p.m. Wednesday and northern Virginia and Maryland by midday Thursday. Dorian is currently expected to pass south and east of Long Island at the end of the week.

Of course, anything can happen in the coming days, hurricanes are known to unexpectedly veer to a new course, fizzle out or strengthen. That's why leaders and forecasters along the Eastern Seaboard are urging residents to monitor weather forecasts.

The full Long Island forecast:

Monday- A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 9am. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 77. South wind 8 to 13 mph.

Monday Night- Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm before midnight, then a chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 66. South wind 5 to 9 mph becoming west after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Tuesday- Sunny, with a high near 79. North wind 6 to 8 mph becoming east in the afternoon.

Tuesday Night- Mostly clear, with a low around 68. South wind around 8 mph.

Wednesday- A 30 percent chance of showers after 2pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 82.

Wednesday Night- A 30 percent chance of showers before 2am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 64.

Thursday- Partly sunny, with a high near 72.

Thursday Night- A 30 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 59.

Friday- A 50 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 70. Breezy.

Friday Night- Mostly cloudy, with a low around 58.

Saturday- Mostly sunny, with a high near 75.

With reporting by Deb Belt