Dorian Brings High Surfs and Dangerously Powerful Rip Currents to Tri-State; Makes Landfall in Nova Scotia

What to Know

Dorian became a hurricane-force post-tropical cyclone in the water off of Canada on Saturday afternoon
The National Hurricane Center in Miami said the hurricane had maximum sustained winds of 100 mph
The storm was centered about 50 miles south-southwest of Halifax, Nova Scotia, and 170 miles east-southeast of Eastport, Maine

Dorian, now a post-tropical cyclone, made landfall in Canada and brought very stong winds to most of Nova Scotia on Saturday evening.

The storm had maximum sustained winds of 100 mph, equivalent to a Category 2 hurricane, when it made landfall about 15 miles south of Halifax at 6:15 p.m., the National Hurricane Center said.

At 11 p.m., the storm was centered about 60 miles south of the Madgalen Islands and about 200 miles southwest of Cape St. George, Newfoundland. The maximum sustained winds were 90 mph.

More than half a million customers were without power in Canada, the National Hurricane Center said.

Forecasters say the center of Dorian is expected to move to Newfoundland and Labrador on Sunday.

The storm was moving away from the tri-state Saturday, but area beaches could still feel dangerous rip currents and rough surf, according to Storm Team 4. A coastal flood advisory was issued for southern Queens and southern Nassau from 2 p.m. until 6 p.m. Saturday. (Get full local forecast details here.)

The raw video of the International Space Station is mesmerizing. See Dorian from space.

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A high surf advisory was issued for southeastern and southwestern Suffolk County until 9 p.m.

The NYC Parks Department announced that all city beaches would be closed to swimming and surfing through Saturday due to the dangerous rip currents from Dorian. Lifeguards and enforcement staff will be stationed along the coastline to enforce the ban. Coastal flooding and beach erosion are also expected.

Waves up to 12 feet high could hit the south shore of Long Island, along with a powerful rip current that has led officials to close beaches and warn people to stay away from the waters, at least until Sunday. NBC 4 New York’s Rana Novini reports.

Before Dorian headed out to sea, it certainly left its mark after 10 days of tip-toeing along the eastern seaboard from Florida up to Virginia. The storm made its first official landfall Friday morning on North Carolina's Outer Banks Friday, knocking out power for more than 340,000 people.

After leaving many parts of coastal southeast damaged from wind, flooding or even tornadoes, the hurricane dumped a day of heavy showers and strong wind gusts on the tri-state Friday.

Slow weakening is expected through Saturday as it approaches Nova Scotia. The storm has brought catastrophic conditions wherever it's been, dumping more than 30 inches of rain on parts of the Bahamas amid a life-threatening storm surge. Dorian had crashed into the island nation as its strongest hurricane on record leaving widespread devastation and at least 43 people dead.

Some shore communities could deal with minor back bay flooding as Hurricane Dorian moves away offshore, and officials are warning people against going in the ocean at least to start the weekend, with powerful rip currents and waves predicted. NBC 4 New York’s Ted Greenberg reports.