October Surprise? Hurricane Matthew tracks moving closer to U.S. coast
Dangerous Category 4 Matthew heading for Haiti
Hurricane Matthew is a major Category 4 hurricane with 140 mph winds. Matthew will likely deal a devastating blow to the western tip of Haiti overnight. The hurricane is very well formed with a clear eye and central dense overcast, all signs of a potentially devastating storm at landfall. Matthew looks impressive, even scary on satellite loops.
BULLETIN
HURRICANE MATTHEW ADVISORY NUMBER 23
NWS NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL AL142016
500 PM EDT MON OCT 03 2016
...LIFE-THREATENING RAIN...WIND...AND STORM SURGE EXPECTED IN PARTS OF HAITI TONIGHT...
...HURRICANE WARNING ISSUED FOR THE CENTRAL BAHAMAS...
SUMMARY OF 500 PM EDT...2100 UTC...INFORMATION
----------------------------------------------
LOCATION...16.3N 74.7W
ABOUT 140 MI...225 KM S OF TIBURON HAITI
ABOUT 225 MI...360 KM SW OF PORT AU PRINCE HAITI
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...140 MPH...220 KM/H
PRESENT MOVEMENT...N OR 10 DEGREES AT 7 MPH...11 KM/H
MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...940 MB...27.76 INCHES
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East Coast now in play
Hurricane watchers on the U.S. east coast are growing increasingly concerned about the potential for a close call with Hurricane Matthew. Monday's weather forecast models have shifted the likely track for Hurricane Matthew to the west, and much closer to the east coast.
The westward shift brings Florida and the Carolinas into the forecast cone of uncertainty for Matthew late this week. NOAA's National Hurricane Center has shifted the tracks west, and now has a major hurricane in the Bahamas and dangerously to the Florida and Carolina coast late this week.
The longer range GEFS tracks suggest a hurricane strafing the length of the U.S. east coast over the next week.
Intensity forecast: Major
Intensity forecasts for Matthew continue to favor a major Category 3 storm as it moves closer to the southeast U.S. coast late this week.
The Governors of Florida and North Carolina have declared a state of emergency in preparation for possible effects from Matthew.
Stay tuned. Matthew is about to become a much bigger news story.