Hurricane Dorian hits US Virgin Islands, could grow to Category 3 storm

MIAMI -- Dorian has hit the U.S. Virgin Islands just as it reached hurricane force, and forecasters say it could grow to Category 3 status before a likely collision with the U.S. mainland as early as the weekend.

The British Virgin Islands and the Puerto Rican islands of Vieques and Culebra were also in Dorian's path. Officials in the U.S. territory were worried the storm could bring landslides, widespread flooding and power outages in what could be the first major test of emergency preparedness since the 2017 devastation of Hurricane Maria.

Dorian prompted President Donald Trump to declare a state of emergency Tuesday night and order federal assistance for local authorities.

At 1 p.m. CDT, Dorian was located over St. Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands with maximum sustained winds of 75 mph (120 kph). It was moving northwest at 13 mph (20 kph).