Units of the National Park System in parts of Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina were closed in advance of Hurricane Dorian, which was expected to run up the east coast of Florida and run into those states.
Cumberland Island National Seashore off the coast of Georgia, Fort Pulaski National Monument on the Georgia-South Carolina coastline, Fort Sumter National Monument in South Carolina, Charles Pinckney National Historic Site in South Carolina, Cape Lookout National Seashore in North Carolina, and Cape Hatteras National Seashore, Fort Raleigh National Historic Site, and Wright Brothers National Memorial in North Carolina all were shuttering in preparation of the storm.
"Due to the unpredictability to the upcoming storm, the park is closed as of the end of the day August 31, 2019. The park will re-open once it has been determined it is safe for visitors and staff," read a statement on Cumberland Island's home page.
At the Outer Banks Group that included Cape Hatteras, Fort Raleigh, and Wright Brothers, staff said Monday that, "As of 8 a.m. today, regional forecasts show that Hurricane Dorian is projected to approach and impact the Outer Banks later this week."
"A high risk of rip currents, causing life threatening conditions, will persist throughout the week all along Cape Hatteras National Seashore," the message continued, with Superintendent David Hallac adding that, “Park users should stay out of the Atlantic Ocean until Hurricane Dorian passes and the risk of rip currents and hazardous beach conditions declines.”
At the National Hurricane Center, forecasters said that the "hurricane will then move dangerously close to the Florida east coast late Tuesday through Wednesday evening and then move dangerously close to the Georgia and South Carolina coasts on Wednesday night and Thursday."
While Dorian was expected to weaken in the coming days, the Hurricane Center said it would remain a dangerous storm.
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