Hurricane Dorian is now a Category 4 storm and its forecast has moved north, putting Georgia and South Carolina in its path

Hurricane Dorian is gaining strength as it heads toward the Bahamas and Florida — its sustained wind speeds have reached roughly 145 mph, turning it into a Category 4 storm Friday night. In the Bahamas, the NHC expects Dorian to bring hurricane-force winds, a "life-threatening storm surge" of 10 to 15 feet, and "large and destructive waves" on Sunday. Those other systems could pull the storm in a range of directions — NHC forecasters said on Thursday that there were "so many complex variables in play" that "the models have been having a difficult time nailing down the path of the hurricane." Even if the storm does turn north before reaching the coast, Graham said, Florida residents should still expect strong winds throughout the state. And the NHC warned on Friday evening that "life-threatening storm surge and devastating hurricane-force winds are likely along portions of the Florida east coast by early next week." NOAA GOES-East Gov. Ron DeSantis has declared a state of emergency across Florida.