Jupiter-area residents should prepare for hurricane conditions expected in the area in the coming days. Here are the latest updates.
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The Latest
Friday, Oct. 7, 8 a.m. advisory
Hurricane Matthew—now a category 3 storm with maximum sustained winds of 120 mph—spared most of South Florida its worst as it continues to move up along the state’s eastern coast toward Jacksonville, Georgia, and South Carolina.
The storm is currently located 35 miles north-northeast of Cape Canaveral and 45 miles east-southeast of Daytona Beach.
Areas south of Jupiter Inlet are no longer under tropical storm warning.
About 48,000 FPL customers in Palm Beach County remain without power.
Thursday, Oct. 6, 11 p.m. advisory:
As of 11 p.m., Hurricane Matthew was located 50 miles north-northwest of Freeport, Grand Bahama Island, as the eye edges toward Florida’s east coast.
Forecasters expect the storm—still a category 4 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 130 mph—to weaken slightly over the next 48 hours as it continues to head northwest, past Palm Beach County.
Hurricane-strength conditions are expected to reach warning areas over the next few hours and spread northward through Friday. Tropical storm conditions will continue to spread in the area tonight and Friday.
Palm Beach, Martin, St. Lucie and Indian River counties remain under a hurricane warning as feeder bands from the system make their way across the areas. Broward and Miami-Dade are under a tropical storm warning.
Thursday, Oct. 6, 5 p.m. advisory:
Hurricane Matthew is located 23 miles south-southeast of Freeport, Grand Bahama Island, and about 100 miles west of West Palm Beach.
The storm remains a category 4 hurricane, with maximum sustained winds of 140 mph. Some fluctuation in intensity is expected.
Tropical storm conditions are expected to continue moving in across most of South Florida over the next few hours, with hurricane-strength conditions expected to arrive in warning areas tonight.
Since the last advisory, hurricane warnings have been extended to South Santee River, South Carolina, and tropical warnings have been issued from there north to Surf City, North Carolina.
At this point, forecasters say they expect stronger parts of Hurricane Matthew to come toward land just north of Palm Beach and Central Florida. Winds are still expected to affect the areas south of those communities.
Thursday, Oct. 6, 8 a.m. advisory:
Hurricane Matthew has strengthened to a category 4 storm with maximum sustained winds of 140 mph.
The storm is currently located about 25 miles west-northwest of Nassau, Bahamas, and 180 miles west of West Palm Beach.
Effects from the storm are expected to reach South Florida within the next few hours, with hurricane conditions beginning to reach areas under a hurricane warning later this evening.
Speaking from Martin County, Gov. Rick Scott urged all Florida residents to stay off the beaches and take all warnings and evacuations seriously.
“This is game day. This is when it’s going to hit,” he said.
Thursday, Oct. 6, 8 a.m. advisory:
Hurricane Matthew is located about 30 miles south-southwest of Nassau, Bahamas, and about 215 miles southeast of West Palm Beach.
The category 3 storm has strengthened slightly, with maximum sustained winds now at 125 mph. Forecasters expect Matthew to strengthen to a category 4 storm as it continues its approach to South Florida.
Hurricane warnings remain for a majority of South Florida, with tropical storm warnings still in place for areas from Golden Beach in Miami-Dade County south through the Keys.
Watches and warnings have been issued along much of the eastern coast of the U.S., going as far north as South Santee River, South Carolina.
The eye of the storm should pass near Grand Bahama Island late Thursday and move close to the Florida peninsula Thursday night through Friday night.
Palm Beach County has issued mandatory evacuations for residents living in Zone A and Zone B. (Skip to here to view map.)
Wednesday, Oct. 5, 11 p.m. advisory:
As of 11 p.m., the eye of the storm was located about 125 miles south-southeast of Nassau, Bahamas, and 325 miles southeast of West Palm Beach.
Still a category 3 storm, Hurricane Matthew has maximum sustained winds of 115 mph.
The storm is expected to gain strength and, it could be a category 4 hurricane as it heads toward Florida.
Most of South Florida remains under a hurricane warning, with communities from Golden Beach down to the Keys still under a tropical storm warning.
Hurricane conditions are expected to approach areas currently under hurricane warning by Thursday night, with tropical storm conditions coming in as early as Thursday morning.
Palm Beach County has issued mandatory evacuations for residents living in Zone A and Zone B. (Skip to here to see the maps.)
Hurricane warnings have also been issued for areas from the Flagler/Volusia county line up north to Fernandina Beach, which is located near Jacksonville. Hurricane watches are in effect for areas north of Fernandina Beach to Edisto Beach, South Carolina.
Wednesday, Oct. 5, 11 a.m. advisory:
As of 11 a.m., Hurricane Matthew was located about 55 miles north-northeast of Cuba, and 105 miles south of Long Island in the Bahamas.
Maximum sustained winds were 120 mph, making Matthew a category 3 hurricane. The National Hurricane Center notes Matthew could remain at category 3 or get stronger while it moves through the Bahamas and approaches Florida’s east coast.
Most of South Florida remains under a hurricane warning, meaning hurricane-strength conditions are expected, with areas from the Keys up to Golden Beach in Miami-Dade County still under tropical storm warning.
Forecasters expect Matthew to move across the Bahamas later today, with hurricane conditions expected to reach Florida’s hurricane warning area by late Thursday. Tropical storm conditions may be apparent, however, as early as Thursday morning.
Officials urge Florida residents to finish any storm prep, including gathering supplies and putting up shutters, today.
For updates specific to your area, see:
Wednesday, Oct. 5, 5 a.m. advisory:
As of 5 a.m., Hurricane Matthew was located about 65 miles north-northwest of the eastern tip of Cuba, and 155 miles south-southeast of Long Island in the Bahamas.
Maximum sustained winds were 125 mph, which downgrades Matthew to a category 3 hurricane. However, the National Hurricane Center notes the storm is expected to strengthen over the next couple of days.
Since the 11 p.m. advisory, hurricane watches have been extended up Florida’s east coast to Fernandina Beach, located near Jacksonville.
Most of South Florida remains under a hurricane warning, with areas from the Keys up to Golden Beach in Miami Dade County still under tropical storm warning.
The storm is expected to make a north-northwest turn today, and a northwest turn this evening. Forecasters expect Matthew to move across the Bahamas Thursday, and be near Florida Thursday evening.
Officials urge Florida residents to finish any storm prep, including gathering supplies and putting up shutters, today.
Tuesday, Oct. 4, 11 p.m. advisory:
As of the 11 p.m. advisory, the storm was located 55 miles east-northeast of Guantanamo, Cuba, and 20 miles northwest of the eastern tip of Cuba.
The eye of the storm was moving off the northeastern coast of the island.
Maximum sustained winds decreased slightly to 130 mph. However, Hurricane Matthew remains a category 4 storm, which is classified as having wind speeds of 130 to 156 mph.
Hurricane warnings have now been issued for Golden Beach in Miami-Dade County up through Sebastian Inlet (just north of Vero Beach) and Lake Okeechobee. Hurricane conditions are expected to affect these areas.
Tropical storm watches previously issued from the Keys to Golden Beach have been upgraded to tropical storm warnings. Hurricane watches now extend from parts of the Treasure Coast north to the Flagler/Volusia county line.
The National Weather Service urges residents to prep for the storm, which may bring damaging winds, heavy rain, isolated tornadoes, rough surf and coastal flooding to South Florida starting as early as Thursday morning.
Tuesday, Oct. 4, 5 p.m. advisory
As of the 5 p.m. advisory, the storm was located 65 miles east-southeast of Guantanamo, Cuba, and 30 miles south-southwest of the eastern tip of Cuba.
Hurricane watches, originally declared from Deerfield Beach up through Central Florida, have now been extended south through Golden Beach in Miami-Dade County.
The Florida Keys up through Golden Beach remain under tropical storm watch.
Maximum sustained winds are 140 mph, which classifies Hurricane Matthew as a category 4 storm. Fluctuations in intensity are expected, but Matthew is projected to remain a major hurricane through Thursday night.
Florida areas under hurricane watch may see hurricane conditions late Thursday, with tropical storm conditions by early Thursday.
Tuesday, Oct. 4, 11 a.m. advisory
As Hurricane Matthew makes its way over Haiti, hurricane watches have been issued from Deerfield Beach in Broward County up through the Volusia/Brevard county line in Central Florida.
Tropical storm watches are in effect from the Florida Keys up through Deerfield Beach, plus Lake Okeechobee.
The eye of the category 4 storm, with current maximum sustained winds of 145 mph, made landfall near Les Anglais in Haiti on Tuesday, Oct. 4 at 7 a.m. Matthew is expected to remain “a powerful hurricane” through Wednesday night, the National Hurricane Center notes.
As of the 11 a.m. advisory, the storm was located about 35 miles north-northeast of Tiburon, Haiti, and 90 miles south of the eastern tip of Cuba. The eye was located in the Gulf of Gonave.
Hurricane warnings are in effect for Haiti, parts of Cuba, the southeastern Bahamas, central Bahamas and northwestern Bahamas.
The latest forecast model puts Matthew near the Bahamas around 8 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 5 and off the east coast of Florida by 8 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 6.
Hurricane conditions are possible in Florida counties currently under hurricane watch by Thursday evening, with tropical storm conditions approaching by Thursday morning.
The National Weather Service in Miami notes potential impacts that include strong winds, heavy rain and isolated tornadoes. The agency also notes dangerous beach conditions and a high risk of rip currents.
Florida Gov. Rick Scott issued a state of emergency Monday evening, urging residents in all counties to prepare for the storm. In the event of a direct hit to Florida, Scott cautioned, the storm could bring the kind of damage the state hasn’t seen since Hurricane Andrew in 1992.
The School District of Palm Beach County is closing schools Thursday, Oct. 6 and Friday, Oct. 7. Please note that includes all district-related events starting after school on Wednesday, Oct. 5, through Sunday, Oct. 9.
At this time, schools will be in session on Wednesday, Oct. 5.
Keep updated through Facebook, Twitter, the district’s website and the ParentLink system.
EVACUATIONS:
Palm Beach County has ordered mandatory evacuations for the following locations:
“Due to the latest information from the National Hurricane Center, evacuations are mandatory for everyone living in Zone A and Zone B. Zone A includes anyone living in mobile homes, substandard housing or flood prone areas. Zone B includes areas east of Country Club Drive south of County Line and north of Indiantown Road; east of Alternate A1A south of Indiantown and north of Frederick Small; all barrier islands from Singer Island south to the county line with many pockets just east of US 1.”
Nearby Palm Beach County shelters include the following. Local TV and radio stations will issue shelter opening announcements, as not all shelters are open at the same time.
Independence Middle School
4001 Greenway Dr, Jupiter 33458
Palm Beach Gardens High School
4245 Holly Dr, Palm Beach Gardens 33410
Dr Mary McLeod Bethune Elementary School
1501 Avenue U, Riviera Beach 33404
For a complete list and map of these shelters, click here.
As a reminder, here are some things you should have handy in your storm kit:
- At least 1 gallon of water per person for three to five days. (Keep in mind you’ll need a bit extra for any food prep and personal hygiene.)
- Stock up on non-perishable food items, including cereal, canned foods (such as tuna, vegetables, soups), powdered milk, canned juices, dried fruit, peanut butter, crackers and granola bars.
- Flashlights, candles (good idea to store matches in waterproof container)
- First aid kit
- A supply of any necessary prescription medications you may need to have on hand
- Can opener/bottle opener
- Toilet paper, napkins, baby wipes, garbage bags, towels
- Make sure your phone is charged, and keep an extra battery handy if you have one.
For live updates from Jupiter Magazine, follow along on Twitter @JupiterMag.
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