Hurricane Dorian Could Bring Tropical Storm Conditions To NYC

NEW YORK – There's a chance that tropical storm conditions will hit New York City Friday into Friday night as the center of Hurricane Dorian passes well south and east, the National Weather Service says. Forecasters estimate the probability of the city being affected is 10 to 20 percent.

Wind gusts of between 40 and 50 mph and heavy rain will be possible, according to forecasts.

Dorian battered the central Florida coast overnight and into Wednesday morning, though the Sunshine State appeared to have been spared a direct hit. The category 2 hurricane with sustained winds of 110 mph was moving north towards Georgia and the Carolinas, the National Hurricane Center says.

The storm caused catastrophic damage and killed at least five people in the Bahamas over the past two days.

Dangerous rip currents and rough surf are likely to develop on New York City area beaches Wednesday and continue into Saturday as energetic swells from Dorian begin to affect the local shoreline.

If Dorian trends to left of the the NHC's current track for the storm, stronger winds and heavier rainfall will be likely in NYC Friday. If the storm trends to the right, the wind and rain threat would decrease.

"Please continue to monitor subsequent forecasts for any changes in track or intensity and fine tuning of hazards and impacts," the NWS says.