Major Hurricane Matthew to pound southeastern US coast with surf, rain and wind

By Alex Sosnowski, AccuWeather.com Senior Meteorologist

October 4,2016; 11:30PM,EDT

 

 

Beyond the Bahamas, Matthew will threaten the southeastern United States coast as a major hurricane with pounding surf, torrential rain and damaging winds starting late this week.
The risk of heavy rain, strong winds and pounding seas will extend northward as the weekend progresses.
Conditions will deteriorate from south to north from Florida to the Carolinas and Virginia late this week and into this weekend as powerful Hurricane Matthew approaches.

Matthew will take a northwestern turn over the Bahamas on Wednesday and will continue on a northwesterly path that will bring the system very close to the Florida east coast on Friday and the South Carolina coast during Friday night, according to AccuWeather Hurricane Expert Dan Kottlowski.
"From Saturday to Sunday, a turn toward the northeast is forecast with the center continuing to parallel the coast and possible landfall on one or more points in North Carolina," Kottlowski said.
Officials across the Southeast are taking precautions ahead of the storm. On Monday, North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory declared a state of emergency for 66 counties in central and eastern North Carolina. He was later joined by Florida Gov. Rick Scott who issued a statewide state of emergency. Both governors also activated portions of their National Guard.
On Tuesday, South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley declared a state of emergency and ordered the evacuation of more than 1 million people from coastal areas along the state, while Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal declared a state of emergency for 13 counties.
Matthew to raise monstrous seas, bring danger to coastal US
The most widespread impacts will be for seas and surf to build to dangerous and damaging levels.
The number and strength of rip currents will increase.

Storm surge and wave action will lead to coastal flooding with the worst conditions at times of high tide.
Some low-lying access roads to the islands may be inundated.
Offshore, seas can build to monstrous levels. Wave heights from north of the Bahamas to just northeast of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, will top 25 feet as Matthew moves northward.
Cruise and freight interests may want to reroute their course to avoid the dangerous conditions.
Bathers and boaters should heed all advisories as they are issued. To venture in or on the sea will put not only you, but also you would-be rescuers, at risk.
Risk of flooding, damaging winds to expand in southeastern US
Along the immediate eastern Florida and Georgia coasts, winds can gust close to hurricane force with tropical storm conditions possible farther inland along the Interstate 95 corridor.
In Florida and Georgia, most of the heavy rain and the risk of sporadic poor-drainage area flooding is likely to be restricted to the coast and along I-95.

Farther north along the I-95 corridor in the Carolinas and perhaps over the Virginia capes, people should be prepared for hurricane conditions. Right along the coast, especially on Cape Hatteras, gusts may approach 100 mph.
Winds this strong can down trees and large tree limbs, cause property damage and knock out power.
From the Carolinas to southeastern Virginia, heavy rain and the risk of flash and urban flooding will be more extensive from the coast to the I-95 corridor.
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Heavy rain and strong winds could push farther west over the Carolinas, should Matthew make landfall and move inland, rather than parallel the coast.
Matthew will impact the northeastern US this weekend
"The severity of impacts in the Northeastern states will be dependent on the track of Matthew and its interaction with a storm system approaching from the west this weekend," Kottlowski said.
If the two features remain separate, tropical storm to hurricane conditions with minor to moderate coastal flooding and localized damage will brush areas from southeastern Maryland to eastern Massachusetts, southeastern New Hampshire and Maine.

"If the two systems begin to merge, then the risk of heavy rain, flooding and damaging winds will accelerate northward and extend farther inland, perhaps well beyond the I-95 corridor," according to AccuWeather Chief Meteorologist Elliot Abrams.
All U.S. interests from Maine to Florida along the coast and the I-95 corridor will need to closely monitor the track, strength and forward speed of Matthew through this weekend.