Hurricane Dorian (2019 Atlantic Hurricane Season)
Hurricane Dorian was a catastrophic Category 5 hurricane that devastated the northern Bahamas in September 2019, becoming the strongest hurricane on record to strike the Bahamas and tying for the highest sustained winds at landfall (185 mph) in Atlantic history. It remains one of the most destructive and deadly storms in modern Caribbean history, with a death toll of at least 74 (though unofficial estimates exceed 300), $3.4 billion in damages, and long-term trauma that reshaped entire communities.
Timeline & Path
Intensity & Records
Devastation in the BahamasAbaco Islands & Grand Bahama – Ground Zero
Human Toll
Survivor Stories
U.S. Impacts
Response & Recovery
Long-Term Aftermath
Comparison: Dorian vs. Melissa (2025)
Legacy
Where to Learn More
Timeline & Path
Date (2019) | Event |
|---|---|
Aug 24 | Forms as a tropical wave off Africa |
Aug 28 | Becomes Hurricane Dorian (Category 1) |
Aug 30 | Rapidly intensifies to Category 5 (185 mph, 910 mbar) |
Sep 1–3 | Stalls over Grand Bahama & Abaco for 40 hours — longest stall of a major hurricane on record |
Sep 5 | Brushes North Carolina as Category 2 |
Sep 7 | Strikes Nova Scotia as post-tropical cyclone |
Sep 8 | Dissipates over Atlantic Canada |
Path Summary: Originated in the central Atlantic → intensified rapidly → struck Abaco Islands (Sep 1) → Grand Bahama (Sep 2–3) → moved up U.S. East Coast → Canada.
Intensity & Records
Metric | Value | Record |
|---|---|---|
Peak Winds | 185 mph (1-min sustained) | Tied with 1935 Labor Day Hurricane for strongest Atlantic landfall |
Lowest Pressure | 910 mbar | 5th-lowest in Atlantic history |
Rapid Intensification | 75 mph increase in 24 hrs | Among fastest on record |
Storm Surge | 23+ ft (Marsh Harbour, Abaco) | Highest ever measured in Bahamas |
Stall Duration | 40 hours over Grand Bahama | Longest on record for a major hurricane |
Dorian was the first Category 5 to hit the Bahamas and the strongest Atlantic hurricane north of 25°N.
Devastation in the BahamasAbaco Islands & Grand Bahama – Ground Zero
- 90% of infrastructure destroyed in parts of Abaco (e.g., Marsh Harbour, Treasure Cay).
- 13,000 homes destroyed or severely damaged.
- Storm surge up to 23 feet inundated entire towns — some areas saw water rise 15–20 feet in minutes.
- Eyewall winds > 180 mph for over 24 hours due to stall.
- Entire neighborhoods erased — satellite imagery showed before/after scenes of complete obliteration.
Marsh Harbour (Abaco): Once a bustling town of 6,000 — reduced to rubble. Residents described a “roar like a freight train” for two full days.
Human Toll
Category | Numbers |
|---|---|
Confirmed Deaths | 74 (official) |
Unofficial Estimates | 200–300+ (many bodies never recovered) |
Missing | 282 (as of late 2019) |
Displaced | 70,000+ |
Injuries | Thousands (cuts, infections, trauma) |
Many deaths were due to drowning in attics, flying debris, or post-storm disease (e.g., contaminated water).
Survivor Stories
- Howard Armstrong (Grand Bahama): Survived by clinging to a rooftop for 30 hours in 150+ mph winds.
- “The Mudd” (Abaco): A shantytown of 400+ Haitian migrants — completely wiped out. Only 2 buildings left standing.
- Ramon McKenzie: Lost 7 family members when their home collapsed in surge.
“It sounded like the world was ending. The wind screamed. Then the water came — fast. We had no time.” – Survivor, Treasure Cay
U.S. Impacts
- North Carolina (Outer Banks): Category 1 landfall near Cape Hatteras (Sep 6)
- 100+ mph gusts
- 10–15 ft storm surge
- Ocracoke Island cut off for days
- $300 million in damage
- Florida: Spared direct hit — but evacuated 1 million+ in fear
- South Carolina, Georgia, Virginia: Heavy rain, tornadoes, beach erosion
Response & Recovery
Agency | Action |
|---|---|
Bahamas Govt | Declared national emergency; curfews in Abaco/Grand Bahama |
U.S. Coast Guard | Rescued 300+ via helicopter |
Royal Caribbean/Carnival | Sent ships with supplies, evacuated residents |
International Aid | $10M+ from UK, Canada, EU; private donations surged |
NEMA (Bahamas) | Coordinated 1,300+ rescues |
Controversy: Trump’s false claim that Alabama was in danger → “Sharpiegate”
Immigration: Trump initially denied TPS for Bahamians fleeing Dorian
Immigration: Trump initially denied TPS for Bahamians fleeing Dorian
Long-Term Aftermath
- Rebuilding stalled: By 2023, thousands still in tents or shipping containers.
- Mental health crisis: PTSD rates > 60% in children.
- Economic collapse: Tourism (70% of GDP) plummeted; Abaco still not fully restored.
- Climate signal: Dorian’s rapid intensification + stall linked to warmer oceans and climate change.
UN Report (2020): Dorian was a “wake-up call” for small island nations.
Comparison: Dorian vs. Melissa (2025)
Feature | Dorian (2019) | Melissa (2025) |
|---|---|---|
Peak Winds | 185 mph | 185 mph |
Pressure | 910 mbar | 892 mbar |
Landfall Location | Abaco/Grand Bahama | Jamaica (SW), Cuba (E) |
Stall Duration | 40 hrs | None (fast-moving) |
Death Toll | 74+ | 49+ |
Damage | $3.4B | $8B+ |
Worst Impact | Bahamas (devastation) | Jamaica (catastrophic landfall) |
Dorian = slow-motion apocalypse
Melissa = rapid, explosive strike
Melissa = rapid, explosive strike
Legacy
- Stronger building codes in Bahamas (now mandatory hurricane straps, elevated homes).
- Improved early warning systems (text alerts, drone reconnaissance).
- Global symbol of climate vulnerability — featured in UN climate talks.
Where to Learn More
- NHC Archive: noaa.gov
- NASA Earth Observatory: Before/after satellite images
- Documentary: "After Dorian" (HBO, 2020)
- Book: The Bahamas: After Dorian by Nicole Martin (2021)
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