Eye Of Matthew Moving Near Central Bahamas, Expected To Intensify As It Approaches Florida
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MIAMI (CBSMiami) – The eye of Hurricane Matthew is moving near the Central Bahamas and is expected to intensify as it approaches Florida.
At 11 p.m. the center of the Category 3 hurricane was about 125 miles south-southeast of Nassau, Bahamas and about 325 miles southeast of West Palm Beach, Florida.
Matthew's maximum sustained winds are sitting at 115 mph. Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 45 miles from the center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 175 miles.
Matthew's forward speed dipped from 12 mph to 10 mph. It's moving toward the northwest and this general motion is expected to continue Wednesday night and Thursday.
A turn toward the north-northwest is expected Thursday night.
On the forecast track, the center of Matthew should pass near Andros Island and Nassau overnight, then very near the east coast of the Florida peninsula Thursday night through Friday night.
SUMMARY OF WATCHES AND WARNINGS IN EFFECT:
A Hurricane Warning is in effect for:
- North of the Flagler/Volusia county line to Fernandina Beach, Florida
- Southeastern Bahamas, including the Inaguas, Mayaguana, Acklins
- Crooked Island, Long Cay, and Ragged Island
- Central Bahamas, including Long Island, Exuma, Rum Cay, San Salvador, and Cat Island
- Northwestern Bahamas, including the Abacos, Andros Island, Berry Islands, Bimini, Eleuthera, Grand Bahama Island, and New Providence
- North of Golden Beach to the Flagler/Volusia county line
- Lake Okeechobee
A Hurricane Watch is in effect for:
- Savannah River to Edisto Beach, South Carolina
- North of Fernandina Beach to Edisto Beach
A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for...
- Chokoloskee to Golden Beach
- The Florida Keys from Seven Mile Bridge eastward
- Florida Bay
A Tropical Storm Watch is in effect for...
- North of Chokoloskee to Suwannee River
Interests elsewhere in the Florida Peninsula, the Florida Keys, and in the Carolinas should monitor the progress of Matthew.
For storm information specific to your area in the United States, including possible inland watches and warnings, please monitor products issued by your local National Weather Service forecast office.
For storm information specific to your area outside the United States, please monitor products issued by your national meteorological service.
Matthew is expected to produce total rainfall amounts in the following areas:
- Southern Haiti and southwestern Dominican Republic...15 to 25 inches, isolated 40 inches
- Eastern Cuba and northwestern Haiti...8 to 12 inches, isolated 20 inches
- Eastern Jamaica...additional 1 to 2 inches, isolated storm totals 12 inches
- The Bahamas...8 to 12 inches, isolated 15 inches
- Turks and Caicos Islands...2 to 5 inches, isolated 8 inches
- Northeastern Haiti and the Northern Dominican Republic...1 to 3 inches, isolated 5 inches
- Coastal east-central Florida....4 to 7 inches, isolated 10 inches
- The Florida Keys....1 to 3 inches, isolated 5 inches
Life-threatening flash floods and mudslides are likely in southern and northwestern Haiti, the southwestern Dominican Republic, and eastern Cuba.
The combination of a dangerous storm surge and large and destructive waves could raise water levels by as much as the following amounts above normal tide levels.
- Northern Coast of Cuba east of Camaguey...4 to 6 feet
- The Bahamas...10 to 15 feet
The water could reach the following heights above ground if the peak surge occurs at the time of high tide:
- North Palm Beach to the Flagler/Volusia county line...3 to 5 ft
Surge-related flooding depends on the relative timing of the surge and the tidal cycle, and can vary greatly over short distances.
Large waves generated by Matthew will cause water rises to occur well in advance of and well away from the track of the center.
The combination of a dangerous storm surge and the tide will cause normally dry areas near the coast to be flooded by rising waters moving inland from the shoreline. There is a danger of life- threatening inundation during the next 36 hours along the Florida east coast from Deerfield Beach to the Flagler/Volusia county line.
There is the possibility of life-threatening inundation during the next 48 hours from north of the Flagler/Volusia county line to Savannah River. For a depiction of areas at risk, please see the Prototype National Weather Service Storm Surge Watch/Warning Graphic. For information specific to your area, please see products issued by your local National Weather Service forecast office.
The Prototype Storm Surge Watch/Warning Graphic is a depiction of areas that would qualify for inclusion under a storm surge watch or warning currently under development by the National Weather Service and planned for operational use in 2017. The Prototype Graphic is available at hurricanes.gov.
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