Frankenstorm Matthew’s Eyewall Nears Cape Canaveral: What We Know Currently!

Hurricane Matthew is the most impressive storm to threaten the Atlantic coast in more than a decade. Here’s what we understand currently about the powerful storm.

What developed overnight

Hurricane Matthew was downgraded to a Category 3 storm. It has not made landfall and the eye of the storm stays offshore. Nevertheless, it remains an extremely dangerous storm. Strong winds and powerful rain were hammering the coast as the storm’s outer bands worked their way north.

Where’s the storm right now?

The western edge of the eyewall is close to Cape Canaveral, bringing 90 mph winds still with the possibilities to gust up to 130. As of 6:15 a.m., it was about 170 miles south-southeast of Jacksonville, based on the National Weather Service. It is anticipated to continue moving northwest Friday and, by Friday night, turn north. It’s moving parallel to the coast.

The storm continues to be very dangerous

The National Weather Service is mincing now words, forecasting life-threatening storm surge along the coast and 8 to 12 inches of rain. Complete and total destruction of structures on barrier islands near Jacksonville is possible. The St. John’s River in northeast Florida/southeast Georgia could be overwhelmed by all the rain. Even those somewhat inland could feel the influences of flooding.

The power outages have started

More than 300,000 in Florida are without power Friday morning. The number will be climbing quickly as the storm moves closer to and up the coast. Up to 2.5 million Florida Power & Light customers are anticipated to lose power.

Thousands of flights canceled

Matthew is wreaking havoc on the travel industry. As of 11:30 p.m. ET on Thursday, airlines had canceled more than 4,800 flights nationwide for a period extending from Wednesday through Saturday, based on flight-tracking service FlightAware. That total could develop even further depending on the storm’s path.

Haiti: Matthew left a broad path of destruction

The Haitian Interior Ministry stated at least 283 people were killed when the storm struck Tuesday with 145-mph winds, torrential rain and driving storm surge. Hurricane Matthew is the most impressive single hurricane on record to make landfall in Haiti, Cuba and the Bahamas. At least four died in the Dominican Republic, Haiti’s neighbor on the island of Hispaniola.

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