Hurricane Matthew has gained strength as it moves toward Florida. Matthew is centered about 50 miles NNW of Freeport, Grand Bahama Island or 125 miles SE of Cape Canaveral, Florida and is moving NW at 13 mph. This general motion is expected to continue today with a turn toward the NNW tonight or early Friday. On the forecast track, Matthew should cross the northwestern Bahamas later today and move close to or over the east coast of the Florida through Friday night. Matthew will make a sharp east turn this weekend off of the South Carolina coast.
Reports form an Air Force plane indicate that the maximum sustained winds are near 130 mph 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 from the center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 160 miles.
Download the First Warning Weather app to track conditions where you live
Click here for the current local forecast
Hurricane Tracker:
Click here to sign up for email alerts from the First Warning Storm Team.
