As of 5 a.m. EDT Tuesday, Dorian was a Category 3 storm battering Grand Bahama Island, the National Hurricane center said. It had been a Category 5
The storm was stationary with top sustained winds of 120 mph.
At least five people were killed on the Abaco Islands, according to Bahamas Prime Minister Hubert Minnis, who called Dorian "a historic tragedy."
Forecasters say when Dorian does decide to move it will stare right at the coasts of Florida, Georgia and North and South Carolina and could cause dangerous storm surges.