By Meg Wagner, paul P. Murphy and Mike Hayes, From CNN

Miami fire department sends search and rescue team to Puerto Rico ahead of the storm

The Miami-Dade Fire Rescue Department will send a 45-member urban search and rescue team to Puerto Rico ahead of Tropical Storm Dorian, according to a statement.

The teams provide search and rescue support, medical support communications and damage assessment. They also coordinate the distribution of relief supplies.

What we know about the storm: The tropical storm is expected to be a Category 1 hurricane as it approaches Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic on Wednesday and Thursday, according to CNN meteorologist Dave Hennen.

By the end of the week, what’s left of Dorian is expected to move toward the Bahamas and possibly southeastern parts of the mainland US.38 min ago

National Guard puts equipment across Puerto Rico in preparation for storm

The Puerto Rico National Guard is preparing for Tropical Storm Dorian, according to a statement from the agency.

The Puerto Rico National Guard has positioned special equipment in assigned areas throughout the island, the release said.

“We pray that this storm does not hit us directly, but it is very likely that is will pass close along the southern coast,” Maj. Gen. Jose J. Reyes said in the statement.

Reyes urged residents to remain calm.

“We ask our citizens to stay calm, not speculate on the possibilities, stay informed from official news sources, take necessary precautions and to know that the PRNG is vigilant and ready to assist them if necessary,” he said.58 min ago

San Juan mayor opens shelter at arena that can hold 500 people

San Juan Mayor Carmen Yulín Cruz tweeted that the city is opening a shelter at Roberto Clemente Coliseum for anyone displaced due to Tropical Storm Dorian.

The center can hold 500 people and will open at 5 p.m. ET.

Cruise ships are changing their schedules ahead of Tropical Storm Dorian

Carnival Cruise Line is making some itinerary modifications to avoid the current path of Tropical Storm Dorian, the company announced today.

“Our Fleet Operations Center continues to monitor the storm and will make any adjustments as needed as the safety of our guests and crew is our number one priority,” the cruise line said in a statement.

Carnival Sunrise will still depart New York today as scheduled, but it will stop in San Juan, Puerto Rico on Friday instead of Grand Turk. It will head to Amber Cove on Saturday instead of its originally planned San Juan. It’s stop in Grand Turk will not be on Sunday.

Carnival Breeze, which was supposed to stop in San Juan on Wednesday, will stay at sea instead.

Meanwhile, Royal Caribbean said it has “modified the itineraries of Symphony of the Seas, Allure of the Seas, and Harmony of the Seas from Eastern to Western Caribbean routes.”

Norwegian Cruise Line said it has not changed any schedules, but added officials are still “closely monitoring the projection of Tropical Storm Dorian and will provide updates accordingly.”1 hr 17 min ago

European forecast model shows a hurricane hitting Florida on Sunday

From CNN meteorologist Brandon Miller

The European model midday update shows, for the first time for Dorian, a hurricane-strength storm reaching the Florida Peninsula.

Recent model runs of the European model, run by the European Center for Medium Range Forecasting (ECMWF), have been trending stronger over the past 48 hours.

While we shouldn’t focus too much on the details of a forecast model five days in advance, it is worth noting that the model has constantly brought the center of the storm to the eastern coast of Florida, somewhere between Jacksonville and West Palm Beach. 

It is also worth noting the trend towards a stronger storm by the time it reaches Florida.

This storm certainly bears watching, not only in the near term as it approaches Puerto Rico, but also for the weekend on the mainland US East Coast.2 hr 5 min ago

Here’s the latest update from the National Hurricane Center

Tropical Storm Dorian is about 370 miles off the coast of Puerto Rico, according to the National Hurricane Center’s 2 p.m. ET update.

The storm has sustained winds of 50 mph.

Here’s a look at the latest forecast:

For more on this story go to: https://edition.cnn.com/us/live-news/dorian-puerto-rico/index.html