Friday, September 30, 2016

Hurricane Matthew Rapidly Intensifies

Jamaica and Cuba could get walloped by a Cat. 3.
From the Orlando Sentinel:

Hurricane Matthew gaining strength as Category 2 storm
Hurricane Matthew rapidly strengthened overnight into a Category 2 storm and forecasters say it could become a major hurricane before this weekend.

An Air Force Reserve Hurricane Hunter plane flew into the storm early this morning and found 100 mph winds, according to the National Hurricane Center in Miami. As of 8 a.m., the winds had increased to 105 mph.

Matthew is expected to continue strengthening today, while slowing down over the warm Caribbean Sea and forecasters said it could become a major hurricane soon. Latest predictions show it having at least 115 mph winds within 24 hours.

No warnings have been issued and forecasters say it's still too soon to know what impact Matthew could have on Florida. The storm's exact path remains fairly uncertain, but latest models show it staying off the east coast.

Matthew has been heading west at 14 mph, but is expected to turn to the north sometime this weekend, according to the Hurricane Center.

Forecasters say they should have a better idea of what the impact to Florida could be once it turns....MORE
And from Wunderblog, the cone of uncertainty:

Hurricane Matthew