Current predictions have Hurricane Dorian slamming into the Florida coast during the Labor Day holiday weekend/NOAA

As Hurricane Dorian continues to chug through the Atlantic towards the U.S. mainland, some units of the National Park System were closing in advance of the storm while others were taking a wait-and-see approach.

Timucuan Ecological and Historic Preserve, including Fort Caroline National Memorial, Kingsley Plantation, Cedar Point and Theodore Roosevelt Area, were to close Thursday evening with the hurricane's approach. The projected forecast and potential for tornadoes, high winds, flooding, extreme high tides and downed trees, will likely create hazardous conditions, park staff said. The preserve will remain closed until assessments of damage and risks to the public are completed.

“Potential weather impacts associated with Hurricane Dorian are being taken seriously. For the safety of our visitors and employees, Timucuan will be closed until conditions improve,” said Superintendent Chris Hughes. 

Castillo de San Marcos and Fort Matanzas national monuments were to close Friday in anticipation of severe weather and potential impacts from the hurricane. While the storm track was unpredictable, based on existing information park officials on Thursday decided to err on the side of caution and focus on visitor, volunteer, and staff safety by this preemptive closure.  

Further up the coast, in Georgia, staff at Cumberland Island National Seashore were monitoring the forecasts and weather predictions associated with Hurricane Dorian. As of midday Thursday the park had made no decision on closure.

Forecasters at the National Hurricane Center said Thursday that "(t)here is an increasing likelihood of life-threatening storm surge along portions of the Florida east coast late this weekend or early next week, although it is too soon to determine where the highest storm surge will occur. Residents should have their hurricane plan in place, know if they are in a hurricane evacuation zone, and listen to advice given by local emergency officials."

The agency added that "the risk of devastating hurricane-force winds along the Florida east coast and peninsula late this weekend and early next week continues to increase, although it is too soon to determine where the strongest winds will occur."