A Devastating Stall by Hurricane Dorian
When Dorian developed in the Atlantic Ocean during the last week of August 2019, steering winds pushed the storm forward at a respectable rate—about 10-15 miles (16-24 kilometers) per hour. So when the hurricane passed between Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, damage from the storm surge, rain, and wind was modest, explained NASA atmospheric scientist Marangelly Cordero-Fuentes. But as the intensifying storm approached the Bahamas, its forward motion slowed to an excruciating pace.
