Dorian strengths into powerful Category 3 hurricane

WASHINGTON

Dorian strengthened to a potentially devastating Category 3 hurricane Friday ahead of its expected U.S. landfall early next week, and is still gaining strength.

The National Hurricane Center said the storm is "extremely dangerous" and poses a "significant threat" to Florida and the northwestern Bahamas.

Dorian is currently moving northwest at 10 mph (16 kph) with maximum sustained winds hitting 115 mph (185 kph).

Forecasters are warning it could strengthen into a daunting Category 4 hurricane before making landfall somewhere in Florida late Monday or Tuesday morning.

The National Weather Service is warning the storm could bring "life-threatening" storm surge and "devastating hurricane-force winds" n when it hits eastern Florida.

Tropical storm-force winds could be felt in Florida as soon as Sunday, the service warned on Twitter.

It urged Floridians to "PREPARE NOW."

Dorian is currently forecasted to slam into eastern Florida before heading north, though the exact point that it will make landfall remains uncertain.

Heavy rains are expected in Florida and others parts of the southeastern United States, in addition to the Bahamas, starting this weekend and continuing into the middle of next week.