Dorian Becomes a Category 4 Monster Powering Toward Florida

There were fears it could be the most powerful hurricane to hit Florida's east coast in nearly 30 years

This GOES-16 satellite image shows Hurricane Dorian moving over open waters in the Atlantic Ocean on Aug. 30, 2019, at 17:30 UTC. NOAA via AP

MIAMI—Hurricane Dorian powered toward Florida with increasing fury Friday, becoming an “extremely dangerous” Category 4 storm but leaving forecasters uncertain whether it would make a direct hit on the state’s east coast or inflict a glancing blow.

The storm’s winds rose to 130 mph (215 kph) and then, hours later, to a howling 140 mph (225 kph) as Dorian gained strength while crossing warm Atlantic waters. The hurricane could wallop the state with even higher winds and torrential rains late Monday or early Tuesday, with millions of people in the crosshairs, along with Walt Disney World and President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort.