The National Hurricane Center’s 11:00 a.m. advisory puts Hurricane Matthew 35 miles (55 kilometers) south-southeast of Daytona Beach, Florida, moving on a north-northwesterly track as it crawls up the coastline at an agonizingly slow 12 mph (19 kph).
One 50-year-old Florida woman is the first casualty of Hurricane Matthew in the U.S. today. She died last night of a heart attack, reports CNN television News after emergency crews were unable to come to her aid during the worst of the storm.
The good news is that the storm has been downgraded to a Category 3 storm with maximum sustained winds of 120 mph (195 kph). Matthew also spared South Florida, staying about 100 miles away from the Miami and Fort Lauderdale areas. The minimum central pressure is now 947 mb (27.97 inches).
Even while weakening to a Category 3, Matthew is still hammering Florida’s coastline, downed power lines leaving almost 600,000 homes and businesses without power.
On Friday, Florida Governor Rick Scott reminded residents that it crisis wasn’t over yet. “But just remember: It could be the worst part of this is still to come,” he said, reports NBC News. “We still have the potential for a direct hit and we’re seeing 100-mile-per-hour winds.”
NBC News meteorologist Bill Karins says that although Matthew’s track has shifted slightly, the storm surge is expected to be at historic levels. Storm surges of 7 to 11 feet are forecast for Daytona Beach, while Flagler Beach, Florida, on up to Edisto Beach, South Carolina, including portions of the St. Johns River will be getting a 6 to 9-foot storm surge.
“We are at low tide right now. We are going to be at high tide just after lunchtime and it’s going to cause problems,” The Weather Channel’s Jen Carfagno said from Daytona Beach about one hour ago. Eight to 12 inches of rain are expected.
Storm surge in the low-lying coastal regions of Georgia and South Carolina is expected to be life-threatening. The governor’s of both states have pleaded with the public to heed the warnings to “get out” of these areas. With the surge and waves on top of the surge, the NHC says we could be seeing a life-threatening situation.
NWS Charleston warned surge levels along the South Carolina or Georgia coast could be the worst seen since 1989’s Hurricane Hugo in some locations. They also remind residents that this is a large system and the impacts will reach far from the center.
