Hurricane Dorian made landfall in the Bahamas as a 185 mph Category 5.

The storm made landfall in Elbow Cay on the Abaco Islands and will deal a catastrophic blow to the northern Bahamas over the next 48 hours.

Dorian's 185 mph landfall ties the 1935 Labor Day Hurricane as the strongest landfall on record in the Atlantic. Dorian is also tied as the second strongest Atlantic hurricane on record in terms of sustained winds, trailing only Hurricane Allen from 1980.

(SEE THE LATEST DORIAN FORECAST FOR THE U.S. HERE)

Dorian remains a threat to the Southeast U.S. from Florida all the way up the East Coast to southeast Virginia.

Hurricane watches have been issued for a part of Florida's eastern coast ahead of Dorian's close approach to the state early this week.

The hurricane watches are posted from north of Deerfield Beach to the border between Volusia and Brevard counties. A storm surge watch is also in effect for this same stretch of coastline.

A hurricane watch is issued when hurricane conditions (winds 75 mph or greater) are possible in the watch area. They are posted 48 hours before the first tropical-storm-force winds are expected.

A storm surge watch means that a life-threatening inundation is possible in the area during the next 48 hours.

Dorian's exact track in relation to the Florida coast is still uncertain, therefore, it's too early to know if hurricane force winds (75 mph or greater) will affect some portion of the coast in the hurricane watches.

A tropical storm warning remains in effect along the eastern coast of Florida from north of Deerfield Beach to Sebastian Inlet, meaning tropical-storm-force winds (39-plus mph) are expected within 36 hours. This warning includes West Palm Beach.

A tropical storm watch has been issued for portions of the east coast of Florida from north of Golden Beach to Deerfield Beach as well as Lake Okeechobee.

For more on what to expect from Dorian, .