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Powerful Hurricane Matthew Resumes Northwestward Motion… Warning Remains In Effect For Jamaica

By: , October 2, 2016

The Key Point:

The Meteorological Service has maintained a HURRICANE WARNING for Jamaica, as dangerous Hurricane Matthew has strengthened slightly and resumed its northwest motion towards Jamaica.
Powerful Hurricane Matthew Resumes Northwestward Motion… Warning Remains In Effect For Jamaica
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The Facts

  • Outbreaks of showers and thunderstorms are expected to continue this afternoon through tonight.
  • St. Mary, Portland, St. Thomas, Kingston and St. Andrew and St. Catherine will start to experience gusty winds this afternoon as Matthew moves closer to Jamaica’s eastern-most point. Tropical storm conditions should begin over these parishes tonight.

The Full Story

The Meteorological Service has maintained a HURRICANE WARNING for Jamaica, as dangerous Hurricane Matthew has strengthened slightly and resumed its northwest motion towards Jamaica.

The following dangerous effects of a hurricane are expected to affect Jamaica by Monday:

  • Dangerously high water or a combination of dangerously high water and exceptionally high waves, even though winds expected may be less than hurricane force;
  • Average wind speeds greater than 118 kilometres per hour;

 

At 1:00 p.m. the centre of Hurricane Matthew was located near Latitude 14.3 degrees North, Longitude 74.6 degrees West.  This is about 475 kilometres (295 miles) south-southeast of Kingston, Jamaica or 535 kilometres (335 miles) south-southwest of Port au Prince, Haiti.

Matthew is moving toward the northwest at 7 km/h (5 mph). A turn toward the north is expected tonight.  On the forecast track, the centre of Matthew will approach Jamaica and southwestern Haiti on Monday.

Maximum sustained winds are near 230 km/h (145 mph), with higher gusts, so Matthew remains a Category 4 hurricane.  Some fluctuations in intensity are possible during the next couple of days, but Matthew is expected to remain a powerful hurricane into Tuesday.

Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 55 km (35 miles) from the centre and tropical storm-force winds extend outward up to 335 km (205 miles).

 

RAINFALL:

Outbreaks of showers and thunderstorms are expected to continue this afternoon through tonight. Matthew is expected to produce total rainfall accumulations of:

  • 250-500 mm (10-20 in) primarily across eastern parishes (St. Mary, Portland, St. Thomas and Kingston and St. Andrew) with isolated amounts of 600 mm (25 in) over higher elevations, and
  • 50-100 mm (2-4 in) across western and central parishes with isolated accumulations of 150 mm (6 in).

These rainfall amounts will produce extensive flooding and trigger dangerous landslides.

 

WIND:

St. Mary, Portland, St. Thomas, Kingston and St. Andrew and St. Catherine will start to experience gusty winds this afternoon as Matthew moves closer to Jamaica’s eastern-most point. Tropical storm conditions should begin over these parishes tonight.

Wave heights will increase well in advance of Hurricane Matthew’s approach to affect mainly southern coastlines. All small craft operators are further advised to remain in safe harbour until all warning messages have been lifted and wind and sea conditions return to normal.

The Meteorological Service continues to monitor the progress of this system and all interests are reminded to pay special attention to further Releases.

The next Bulletin on Hurricane Matthew will be issued at 5:00 p.m. today.

Last Updated: October 2, 2016

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