2pm UPDATE: Matthew is battering Bahamas

HURRICANE MATTHEW RELENTLESSLY POUNDING THE BAHAMAS
POTENTIALLY DISASTROUS IMPACTS FOR FLORIDA





At 200 PM EDT, the eye of Hurricane Matthew was located
near latitude 25.7 North, longitude 78.4 West.  The hurricane is
moving toward the northwest near 14 mph (22 km/h), and this general
motion is expected to continue today with a turn toward the north-
northwest tonight or early Friday. On the forecast track, the eye of
Matthew should be near or over Freeport in the Bahamas in the next
few hours, and move close to or over the east coast of the Florida
peninsula through Friday night.

Maximum sustained winds are near 140 mph (220 km/h) with higher
gusts.  Matthew is a category 4 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson
Hurricane Wind Scale.  Some additional strengthening is possible,
and Matthew should remain a Category 4 hurricane while it approaches
the Florida coast.

Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 60 miles (95 km) from
the center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 160
miles (260 km). Nassau in the Bahamas reported 97 mph (156 km/h)
sustained winds earlier today when the northern eyewall moved over
that island.

The estimated minimum central pressure is 939 mb (27.73 inches).

SUMMARY OF WATCHES AND WARNINGS IN EFFECT:

A Hurricane Warning is in effect for...
* 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 Florida to Edisto Beach South Carolina
* Lake Okeechobee

A Hurricane Watch is in effect for...
* North of Edisto Beach to South Santee River South Carolina

A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for...
* Chokoloskee to Golden Beach
* Florida Keys from Seven Mile Bridge eastward
* Florida Bay
* Anclote River to Suwannee River

A Tropical Storm Watch is in effect for...
* North of Chokoloskee to Anclote River