Hurricane Dorian now a Category 2 storm as it heads toward Florida

(CBS) - Hurricane Dorian strengthened to a Category 2 storm on Thursday night as officials said it is expected to hit Florida even harder than previously thought, prompting a widened state of emergency. The storm is on track to make landfall early Monday as a powerful Category 4hurricane -- it could be the strongest direct hit to Florida's east coast since Hurricane Andrew in 1992.

Florida residents rushed to supermarkets across the states collecting food and supplies.

The National Weather Service said Dorian could bring a "triple-threat of dangers" to Florida -- including "life-threatening storm surge, devastating hurricane-force winds and heavy rains." They urged Floridians to "prepare NOW."

The storm rolled over the Virgin Islands on Wednesday, hitting St. Thomas with wind gusts of up to 100 mph. Puerto Rico escaped with no serious damage.

As of 5 p.m. EDT Thursday, Dorian's center was some 330 miles east of the southeastern Bahamas as it headed northwest at 13 mph, the National Hurricane Center said. Dorian's sustained winds were 85 mph, with higher gusts.

More news from CBSNEWS.com


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