The brunt of Hurricane Matthew's dangerous wind and rain is expected to strike several Caribbean countries tonight and Tuesday as the Category 4 hurricane heads toward Haiti, Cuba and Jamaica.
The hurricane, with maximum sustained winds of 140 mph, is expected to bring "life-threatening flash floods and mudslides," according to the National Hurricane Center.
Rainfall of up to 25 inches is forecast over the next two days across southern Haiti and parts of the southwestern Dominican Republic. As much as 12 inches of rain is expected in Cuba and parts of western Haiti, and up to 10 inches is forecast in eastern Jamaica, according to the National Hurricane Center.
Where Is Hurricane Matthew?
Hurricane Matthew was about 195 miles southeast of Kingston, Jamaica, and about 250 miles southwest of Port-au-Prince, Haiti, as of this afternoon. The storm is crawling north at about 6 mph.
The hurricane is expected to approach southwestern Haiti tonight, possibly bringing catastrophic flash flooding.
Schools in Haiti are closed today and Tuesday as the country braces for Matthew's arrival. Government officials are urging residents to heed possible evacuation and preparation orders, especially in landslide-prone areas.
The U.S. Embassy in Port-au-Prince will also be closed today and Tuesday for routine appointments, and officials are advising all U.S. citizens in the country to shelter in place.
The National Hurricane Center warned that the hurricane is expected to "bring life-threatening" rain, wind and storm surge to portions of Haiti.
In Cuba, authorities evacuated about 700 spouses and children of service members at the U.S. Navy base at Guantanamo Bay, according to The Associated Press.
In Jamaica, government officials are making a strong appeal to residents in flood-prone areas, urging them to evacuate to shelters.
Hurricane-force winds extend 25 miles from the center of the storm, meaning catastrophic destruction is expected within 25 miles of the eye of the storm when it approaches land.
Hurricane Watches and Warning
Hurricane warnings are in effect for Jamaica, Haiti, parts of Cuba (including Guantanamo) and parts of the southeastern Bahamas, according to the National Hurricane Center.
A hurricane watch is in effect for Turks and Caicos, the central Bahamas and the Cuban province of Camaguey.
Tropical storm warnings and watches are in effect for parts of the Dominican Republic.
Will Hurricane Matthew Affect the U.S.?
It is too early to determine whether Matthew will affect the country and any impact is still nearly a week away, according to various models.
North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory declared a state of emergency for 66 counties in his state in anticipation of Matthew striking Thursday night. The governor said he has been in contact with FEMA to prepare for the storm.
“I’m hoping this is a false alarm, but we can’t gamble," McCrory said.
ABC News
No comments:
Post a Comment