Hurricane Dorian is expected to impact the east coast of Florida by early next week, with the potential to turn upward and head north along the east coast.

The National Hurricane Center’s 5 p.m. update on Friday projects life-threatening storm surge and devastating hurricane-force winds along portions of the Florida east coast by early next week.

However, since Dorian is forecast to slow down and turn to the north near the coast, “it is too soon to determine when or where the highest surge and winds will occur,” according to the National Hurricane Center.

A prolonged period of storm surge, high winds and rainfall is likely in portions of Florida into next week, including the possibility of hurricane-force winds over inland portions of the Florida peninsula, according to the hurricane center.

Heavy rains are expected over portions of the Bahamas, Florida and elsewhere in the southeastern United States this weekend and into the middle of next week.

According to meteorologist Eswar Iyer at the National Weather Service Wakefield office, there’s currently a “deep-layer” current flow going east to west, which is steering Dorian to the west.

That steering current is projected to weaken and shift more to the northeast – or at least that’s what the model is forecasting for the middle to the end of next week, Iyer said.

“The thinking is that the storm wouldn’t hit Virginia before next Friday due to weak steering currents, if it even hits here at all,” Iyer said.

He emphasized that it’s still to early to tell Dorian’s path for next week.

“Just continue to watch it, (and) don’t let your guard down,” he said. “There’s still a lot of uncertainty.”