Hurricane Dorian brings tornado warnings to NC coast as center nears

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Things to know:

  • Hurricane Dorian was a Category 3 hurricane early Thursday, and the eye of the storm is expected to move near or over the North Carolina coast as a Category 2.
  • A tornado warning issued for southeastern Brunswick County expired at 5:15 a.m.
  • Wake County and other eastern areas are under a tropical storm warning. See the full list of weather alerts.
  • Wake, Durham and Johnston Public Schools are closed Thursday. View complete closings and delays.

5 a.m. — Dorian is a Category 3 hurricane with sustained winds reaching 115 mph, the National Hurricane Center said Thursday morning. The storm’s center is expected to move near or over the North Carolina coast Thursday evening and overnight into Friday.

A tornado warning was issued for southeastern Brunswick County until 5:15 a.m. as the hurricane’s eye was 200 miles away from Wilmington. It was moving north at 8 mph.

The National Hurricane Center’s 5 a.m. forecast showed Dorian moving up the South Carolina and North Carolina coasts and turning northeast sometime Thursday.

“It’s certainly continuing to look like the storm is going to ride right up the coast of North Carolina, and if it bobbles inland, it shouldn’t be very much,” WRAL meteorologist Gardner said.

“Even if the storm stays well offshore, this is still going to be a very big deal for the coast of North Carolina,” she added.

A hurricane warning is in effect for the entire North Carolina coast, with sustained winds at 55 to 85 mph and gusts up to 110 mph.

A tropical storm warning is in effect from Raleigh to Greenville, with 30-40 mph winds and gusts between 40 and 60 mph expected.