Breaking News – Hurricane Matthew Now A Category 3 Hurricane

Hurricane Matthew is now a category 3 hurricane. (NHC image)

By NAN Staff Writer

News Americas, MIAMI, FL, Fri. Sept. 30, 2016: Hurricane Matthew was just moments ago updated to a category 3 hurricane by the National Hurricane Center in Miami.

Hurricanes reaching Category 3 and higher are considered major hurricanes because of their potential for significant loss of life and damage. At 11 a.m., Matthew was about 105 miles north east OF Punta Gallinas, Colombia and about 495 Miles southeast of Kingston, Jamaica with winds now at 115 mph.

The change in strength caused the government of Colombia to change the Tropical Storm Watch to a Tropical Storm Warning, meaning that tropical storm conditions are expected somewhere within the next 12 to 24 hours.  A hurricane watch may be required for Jamaica later today.

Interests elsewhere along the coasts of Venezuela and Colombia as well as Jamaica, Hispaniola, and eastern Cuba are being warned by NHC to monitor the progress of Matthew.

The hurricane is forecast to turn toward the west-northwest is forecast by Saturday night, followed by a turn toward the northwest by early Sunday.  On the forecast track, the center of Matthew will pass north of the Guajira Peninsula later today and tonight and remain over the central Caribbean Sea through early Sunday.