Deadly Hurricane Matthew barrels towards Haiti, Jamaica & Cuba
Two fishermen have died in rough water churned up by the approaching storm in Haiti, the Associated Press reported.
Matthew is expected "to bring life-threatening rain, wind and storm surge to portions of Haiti," the National Hurricane Center said.
Matthew could dump up to 25 inches of rain over much of southern Haiti, with "isolated maximum amounts of 40 inches," the hurricane center warned. Eastern Jamaica, the Dominican Republic and eastern Cuba could see 10 to 20 inches of rain with 25 inches in isolated areas.
In addition, storm surges in the region could cause catastrophic flash flooding.
According to USA Today, as of 11:00 A.M. October 3, 2016, the hurricane center said the dangerous storm had top sustained winds near 140 mph and was moving to the north at 6 mph. It was located about 275 miles southwest of Port-au-Prince, Haiti.
A hurricane warning was in effect for Jamaica, Haiti, and portions of Cuba and the Bahamas.
The center of Matthew was forecast to approach Jamaica and southwestern Haiti late Monday and eastern Cuba on Tuesday.
Matthew briefly reached maximum Category 5 status Friday, making it the strongest Atlantic hurricane in almost a decade. The storm was expected to remain a powerful and dangerous hurricane into Tuesday, forecasters said.
Bracing for the worst
According to reports out of Jamaica, “things are a bit quiet” now but people are bracing themselves for the worst.
Meanwhile, President of the Association of Jamaican Residents (BVI) Tanya Cassie-Parker told Virgin Islands News Online that the Association is following the developments surrounding Hurricane Matthew very closely. “We are naturally very concerned about our families and friends in Jamaica and we are keeping them in our thoughts and our prayers,” Ms Cassie-Parker stated.
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