Hurricane Matthew pounds Florida’s east coast

The eyewall of Hurricane Matthew touched the Florida coast this morning, but the center remained offshore:

Here is the combination visible and IR (temperature sensing) satellite view:

You can follow the visible/IR satellite loop as Matthew continues to move along or near the Florida coast today.

Hurricane Matthew is a category 3 hurricane, with max winds of 120 mph.

These are the hurricane categories that are used by the National Hurricane Center:

Here is the latest advisory from the National Hurricane Center:

HURRICANE MATTHEW INTERMEDIATE ADVISORY NUMBER  37A

NWS NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL       AL142016

800 AM EDT FRI OCT 07 2016

...EYEWALL OF DANGEROUS HURRICANE MATTHEW HUGGING THE COAST OF

CENTRAL FLORIDA...

SUMMARY OF 800 AM EDT...1200 UTC...INFORMATION

----------------------------------------------

LOCATION...28.9N 80.3W

ABOUT 35 MI...55 KM NNE OF CAPE CANAVERAL FLORIDA

ABOUT 45 MI...75 KM ESE OF DAYTONA BEACH FLORIDA

MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...120 MPH...195 KM/H

PRESENT MOVEMENT...NNW OR 330 DEGREES AT 13 MPH...20 KM/H

MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...944 MB...27.86 INCHES

WATCHES AND WARNINGS

--------------------

CHANGES WITH THIS ADVISORY:

The Tropical Storm Warning along the east coast of Florida south

of Jupiter Inlet has been discontinued.

The Hurricane Warning from north of Jupiter Inlet to Sebastian Inlet

has been changed to a Tropical Storm Warning.

The government of the Bahamas has discontinued the Hurricane Warning

for the Bahamas.

SUMMARY OF WATCHES AND WARNINGS IN EFFECT:

A Hurricane Warning is in effect for...

* Sebastian Inlet to South Santee River

A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for...

* Jupiter Inlet to Sebastian Inlet

* Anclote River to Suwannee River

* North of South Santee River to Surf City

A Tropical Storm Watch is in effect for...

* Anna Maria Island to Anclote River

Interests elsewhere in the Florida Peninsula and in the Carolinas

should monitor the progress of Matthew.

For storm information specific to your area in the United States,

including possible inland watches and warnings, please monitor

products issued by your local National Weather Service forecast

office.

DISCUSSION AND 48-HOUR OUTLOOK

------------------------------

At 800 AM EDT (1200 UTC), the eye of Hurricane Matthew was located

near latitude 28.9 North, longitude 80.3 West. Matthew is moving

toward the north-northwest near 13 mph (20 km/h), and this general

motion is expected to continue today. A turn toward the north is

expected tonight or Saturday.  On the forecast track, the center of

Matthew will be moving near or over the east coast of the Florida

peninsula through tonight, and near or over the coasts of Georgia

and South Carolina on Saturday.

Maximum sustained winds are near 120 mph (195 km/h) with higher

gusts.  Matthew is a category 3 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson

Hurricane Wind Scale.  Although weakening is forecast during the

next 48 hours, Matthew is expected to be a category 3 hurricane as

it moves near the coast of Florida today.

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).  Cape Canaveral recently reported and wind gust to

97 mph (155 km/h), and Daytona Beach reported a wind gust of 67 mph

(110 km/h).

The latest minimum central pressure reported by the reconnaissance

aircraft was 944 mb (27.86 inches).

HAZARDS AFFECTING LAND

----------------------

WIND:  Hurricane and tropical storm conditions are expected to

continue over the warning area in Florida during the next several

hours, and spread northward within the warning area through today.

Tropical storm conditions will continue to spread northward in the

warning area along the Florida west coast today.

Hurricane conditions are expected to spread northward in the warning

area in Georgia and South Carolina tonight and Saturday with

tropical storm conditions expected later today.

Winds increase rapidly in elevation in a tropical cyclone.

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.

Tropical storm conditions are expected in the tropical storm warning

area in the Carolinas tonight and Saturday.

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...

Sebastian Inlet, Florida, to Edisto Beach, South Carolina, including

portions of the St. Johns River...7 to 11 ft

Edisto Beach to South Santee River, South Carolina...4 to 6 ft

Jupiter Inlet to Sebastian Inlet, Florida...4 to 6 ft

South Santee River, South Carolina, to Cape Fear, North Carolina...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.

Water levels in the northwestern Bahamas should continue to subside

during the day.

There is a danger of life-threatening inundation during the next 36

hours along the Florida east coast, the Georgia coast, and the South

Carolina coast from Jupiter Inlet, Florida, to South Santee River,

South Carolina.  There is the possibility of life-threatening

inundation during the next 48 hours from north of South Santee

River, South Carolina, to Cape Fear, 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.

The Prototype Storm Surge Watch/Warning Graphic is a depiction of

areas that would qualify for inclusion under a storm surge watch or

warning currently under development by the National Weather Service

and planned for operational use in 2017.  The Prototype Graphic is

available at hurricanes.gov.

RAINFALL: 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

east-central Florida coast 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.

A glossary of terms that are used by the National Hurricane Center is available.

Even if the center of hurricane Matthew remains just offshore, destructive hurricane force winds can be expected in many areas along and inland from the coast.

Heavy rains and a dangerous storm surge of 7 to 11 feet are also possible.

The National Hurricane Center “cone of uncertainty” shows that Matthew’s center may ride along Florida’s eastern coast today and tonight:

Any westward wobble will bring stronger winds to the Florida coast.

Hurricane Matthew is expected to weaken a bit tonight and Saturday as it moves along the coasts of Georgia and South Carolina.

The National Hurricane Center will post regular Hurricane Matthew updates.

Cooler, frost for Minnesota

Cold high pressure will linger over the upper Midwest through Saturday:

Highs will be in the 40s over northern Minnesota today, with some 50s to the south.

Our average high this time of year is 62 degrees in the Twin Cities.

Lows will be in the 30s tonight:

A frost advisory has been issued for late tonight and early Saturday for much of Minnesota, including the north portion of the Twin Cities Metro area:

Other parts of the metro area, especially away from the downtown areas of Minneapolis and St. Paul, could see some frost.

Saturday highs will be cool:

Lows will be in the 30s again Sunday morning:

High temps rebound a bit Sunday afternoon:

60s are expected over southern Minnesota, with 50s in the north.

We could hit 70 in the Twin Cities on Monday!

Programming note

You can hear my live weather updates on Minnesota Public Radio at 7:35 a.m. and 4:35 p.m. each Saturday and Sunday.