Follow CBSMIAMI.COM: Facebook | Twitter
MIAMI (CBSMiami) — Hurricane Matthew is severely lashing the northeast coast of Florida as it continues heading north.
At 2 p.m. the center of the powerful Category 3 hurricane was about 40 miles east-southeast of St. Augustine and 95 miles southeast of Jacksonville.
A turn toward the north is expected tonight or Saturday.
On the forecast track, the center of Matthew will continue to move near or over the coast of northeast Florida and Georgia through tonight, and near or over the coast of South Carolina on Saturday.
Maximum sustained winds are near 115 mph (185 km/h) with higher gusts. Although weakening is forecast during the next 48 hours, Matthew is expected to remain a hurricane until it begins to move away from the United States on Sunday.
Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 60 miles (95 km) from the center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 185 miles (295 km). A wind gust to 84 mph (135 km/h) was recently reported at Ponte Vedra, and a coastal marine observing station at St. Augustine recently measured a wind gust of 85 mph (137 km/h).
Hurricane and tropical storm conditions are expected to continue over the warning area in Florida today, and spread northward within the warning area through Saturday.
SUMMARY OF WATCHES AND WARNINGS IN EFFECT:
A Hurricane Warning is in effect for:
Cocoa Beach to Surf City
A Hurricane Watch is in effect for:
North of Surf City to Cape Lookout
A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for:
Sebastian Inlet to Cocoa Beach
North of Surf City to Duck
Pamlico and Albemarle Sounds
Hurricane and tropical storm conditions are expected to continue over the warning area in Florida today, and spread northward within the warning area through Saturday.
Residents in high-rise buildings should be aware that the winds at the top of a 30-story building will be, on average, about one Saffir-Simpson category higher than the winds near the surface.
(Source: CBS4)
STORM SURGE
The combination of a dangerous storm surge, the tide, and large and destructive waves will cause normally dry areas near the coast to be flooded by rising waters moving inland from the shoreline. The water could reach the following heights above ground if the peak surge occurs at the time of high tide…
Flagler Beach, Florida, to Edisto Beach, South Carolina, including portions of the St. Johns River…6 to 9 ft
Cocoa Beach to Flagler Beach, Florida…4 to 6 ft
Edisto Beach, South Carolina to Cape Fear, North Carolina…4 to 6 ft
Sebastian Inlet to Cocoa Beach, Florida…2 to 4 ft
Cape Fear to Salvo, North Carolina, including portions of the Pamlico and Albemarle Sounds…2 to 4 ft
The deepest water will occur along the immediate coast in areas of onshore winds. Surge-related flooding depends on the relative timing of the surge and the tidal cycle, and can vary greatly over short distances. Large waves generated by Matthew will cause water rises to occur well in advance of and well away from the track of the center. For information specific to your area, please see products issued by your local National Weather Service forecast office.
There is a danger of life-threatening inundation during the next 36 hours along the Florida northeast coast, the Georgia coast, the South Carolina coast, and the North Carolina coast from Sebastian Inlet, Florida, to Cape Fear, North Carolina. There is the possibility of life-threatening inundation during the next 48 hours from north of Cape Fear to Salvo, North Carolina. For a depiction of areas at risk, please see the Prototype National Weather Service Storm Surge Watch/Warning Graphic. For information specific to your area, please see products issued by your local National Weather Service forecast office.
RAINFALL
Matthew is expected to produce additional rain accumulations of 1 to 2 inches over the northwestern Bahamas…with isolated maximum storm-total amounts of 15 inches. Matthew is expected to produce total rain accumulations of 8 to 12 inches over the Atlantic coast of the United States from central Florida to eastern North Carolina…with possible isolated maximum amounts of 15 inches. This rainfall may result in flooding and flash flooding.
TORNADOES
An isolated tornado or two is possible along the South Carolina, Georgia, and northeast Florida coasts today.
SURF
Swells generated by Matthew will continue to affect portions of the Bahamas and the east coast of Florida during the next few days, and will spread northward along the southeast U.S. coast through the weekend. These swells will likely cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions. Please consult products from your local weather office.
Click here for ways to prepare yourself for an impending storm from the CBSMiami.com Hurricane Preps page
Click here for the latest news surrounding hurricanes and the National Hurricane Center
Click here to see all of the latest maps when a storm forms in the Atlantic
Click here to download the CBS4 2016 Hurricane Guide (English)
Click here to download the CBS4 2016 Hurricane Guide (Spanish)
Click here for Live Weather Blog
Download CBS4 Weather App Here