WATCH OUT: Matthew becomes strongest storm churning in Atlantic since 07

• MATTHEW BECOMES A CATEGORY 5 HURRICANE

• THE STRONGEST HURRICANE IN THE ATLANTIC SINCE FELIX IN 2007

FIVE DAY FORECAST. - WeatherUnderground

At 1100 PM EDT, the eye of Hurricane Matthew was located near latitude 13.3 North, longitude 72.3 West. 

Matthew is moving just south of due west near 7 mph. A turn toward the west-northwest is forecast on Saturday, followed by a turn toward the northwest on Sunday. 

On the forecast track, the center of Matthew will move north of the Guajira Peninsula tonight, move across the central Caribbean Sea on Saturday, and be approaching Jamaica late Sunday. 

Data from an Air Force Hurricane Hunter plane indicate that the maximum sustained winds have increased to near 160 mph with higher gusts. 

Matthew is a category 5 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale. Some fluctuations in intensity are possible this weekend, but Matthew is expected to remain a powerful hurricane through Sunday. 

Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 45 miles (75 km) from the center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 205 miles (335 km). The minimum central pressure estimated by a reconnaissance aircraft was 941 mb (27.79 inches). 

HAZARDS AFFECTING LAND 
---------------------- 
WIND: Tropical storm conditions are expected to continue in portions of the warning area in Colombia overnight. Hurricane conditions are possible on Jamaica on Monday, with tropical storm conditions possible by late Sunday. Tropical storm conditions are possible in the watch area in Haiti by late Sunday. 

RAINFALL: Rainfall totals of 2 to 4 inches with isolated higher amounts are expected over Aruba, Bonaire and Curacao through Saturday. Rainfall totals of 2 to 4 inches with isolated higher amounts are expected along the coast of Colombia from the Venezuelan border to Riohacha. Rainfall totals of 1 to 2 inches with isolated higher amounts are expected along the coast of Venezuela from Coro to the Colombian border. Rainfall totals of 10 to 15 inches with isolated maximum amounts of 25 inches are expected across Jamaica and southern and southwestern Haiti. These rains may produce life-threatening flash flooding and mud slides. 

SURF: Swells generated by Matthew are expected to affect portions of the coasts of Puerto Rico, Hispaniola, Jamaica, Aruba, Bonaire, Curacao, Venezuela, and Colombia during the next few days. These swells are likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions. Please consult products from your local weather office.



SUMMARY OF WATCHES AND WARNINGS IN EFFECT: 

A Hurricane Watch is in effect for... 
* Jamaica 

A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for... 
* Colombia/Venezuela border to Riohacha 

A Tropical Storm Watch is in effect for... 
* Haiti from the southern border with the Dominican Republic to Port-Au-Prince 

A Hurricane Watch means that hurricane conditions are possible within the watch area. A watch is typically issued 48 hours before the anticipated first occurrence of tropical-storm-force winds, conditions that make outside preparations difficult or dangerous. 

A Tropical Storm Warning means that tropical storm conditions are expected somewhere within the warning area, in this case in the next 12 hours. 

A Tropical Storm Watch means that tropical storm conditions are possible within the watch area, generally within 48 hours.

MATTHEW BUMPED UP TO A CAT 4 HURRICANE

• MATTHEW RAPIDLY STRENGTHENS TO A POWERFUL CATEGORY 4 HURRICANE
• HURRICANE WATCH ISSUED FOR JAMAICA

Data from a NOAA Hurricane Hunter aircraft indicate that maximum

sustained winds have increased to near 140 mph (220 km/h) with
higher gusts.  Matthew is a CATEGORY FOUR 4  hurricane on the Saffir-
Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale.  Some additional strengthening is
possible tonight, and some fluctuations in intensity are possible
Saturday and Sunday.  Matthew is expected to remain a powerful
hurricane through Sunday.

Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 35 miles from the
center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 195 miles.

The latest minimum central pressure based on data from the NOAA
aircraft is 949 mb (28.03 inches).



The government of Jamaica has issued a Hurricane Watch for Jamaica.

A Tropical Storm Watch has been issued for the southwestern coast
of Haiti from the southern border with the Dominican Republic to
Port-Au-Prince.

SUMMARY OF WATCHES AND WARNINGS IN EFFECT:

A Hurricane Watch is in effect for...
* Jamaica

A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for...
* Colombia/Venezuela border to Riohacha

A Tropical Storm Watch is in effect for...
* Haiti from the southern border with the Dominican Republic to
Port-Au-Prince

A Hurricane Watch means that hurricane conditions are possible
within the watch area.  A watch is typically issued 48 hours before
the anticipated first occurrence of tropical-storm-force winds,
conditions that make outside preparations difficult or dangerous.

A Tropical Storm Warning means that tropical storm conditions are
expected somewhere within the warning area, in this case in the
next 12 hours.

A Tropical Storm Watch means that tropical storm conditions are
possible within the watch area, generally within 48 hours.


Interests elsewhere along the coasts of Venezuela and Colombia and
elsewhere in Hispaniola should monitor the progress of Matthew.
Interests in eastern Cuba should also monitor the progress of
Matthew.