Hurricane Matthew rapidly gained power Friday, escalating to a powerful Category 4 storm as it moved over the open Caribbean sea just south of Jamaica, US forecasters said.
A hurricane watch was issued for Jamaica due to the approaching storm, and forecasters warned of tropical storm conditions for Haiti and Cuba over the next two days.
Packing wind speeds of 140 miles (220 kilometers) per hour, the storm moved in a western direction about 465 miles southeast of Jamaica.
The hurricane watch issued for Jamaica indicates that hurricane conditions are possible by Monday.
"Some additional strengthening is possible tonight," said the National Hurricane Center.
"Matthew is expected to remain a powerful hurricane through Sunday."
Matthew became a Category 1 hurricane on Thursday afternoon, the lowest on a 1-5 scale, then swiftly rose to Category 4 a day later.
Tropical storm warnings were issued for parts of coastal Colombia on Friday, with Haiti also bracing for tropical storm winds and rain by Sunday.
Forecasters said 10-15 inches (25-38 centimeters) of rain could fall on southern Haiti and across Jamaica.
Isolated areas could be lashed with up to 25 inches of rain, risking life-threatening flash floods and mud slides.
Ocean swells with the potential to cause dangerous currents and rip tides are also possible over the next two days in coastal regions of Puerto Rico, Venezuela, Aruba, Bonaire, Curacao, Colombia, the Dominican Republic and Haiti.
AFP
Sat Oct 01 2016
Forecasters said 10-15 inches (25-38 centimeters) of rain could fall on southern Haiti and across Jamaica.
Muhammad Hakim Danish naik podium di GP Sepanyol
Pelumba muda negara Muhammad Hakim Danish Ramli mempamerkan peningkatan prestasi apabila menamatkan perlumbaan 2 Grand Prix (GP) Sepanyol bagi saingan Rookies Cup di kedudukan podium hari ini.
10 Berita Pilihan - (28 April 2024)
Antara pelbagai berita dalam dan luar negara yang disiarkan di Astro AWANI, berikut adalah yang paling menjadi tumpuan sepanjang hari ini.
AWANI Ringkas: Inspektor ditahan kerja
Ikuti rangkuman berita utama yang menjadi tumpuan sepanjang hari di Astro AWANI menerusi AWANI Ringkas.
'Dek Wan' terus menyinar di Maghribi
Dek Wan mempamerkan larian bertenaga dengan mencatat masa 12.52 saat (s) untuk meninggalkan Taha Al Harrasi (12.65s) dari Oman.
Piala Thomas: Malaysia tempah slot ke suku akhir
Malaysia berjaya menempah slot ke suku akhir selepas menewaskan Algeria dengan kemenangan 5-0 dalam saingan Piala Thomas di Chengdu, China sebentar tadi.
Thailand: Enam muka baharu sertai Kabinet Srettha
Perdana Menteri Thailand Srettha Thavisin melantik enam menteri kabinet baharu.
Anwar bertemu PM Jordan, tekan kepentingan sokong pengiktirafan negara Palestin di PBB
Pada pertemuan itu, Perdana Menteri turut menekankan kepentingan memastikan Israel dipertanggungjawabkan terhadap kekejamannya di Palestin.
Lebih ramai atlet dijangka layak ke Paris 2024
Kontinjen Malaysia ke Sukan Olimpik Paris 2024 terus diperkuat dengan empat lagi atlet berjaya mengesahkan slot ke temasya terbesar dunia itu minggu ini, menjadikan sejumlah 10 atlet layak setakat ini
AWANI Ringkas: Polis sahkan Chegu Bard direman dua hari
Ikuti rangkuman berita utama yang menjadi tumpuan sepanjang hari di Astro AWANI menerusi AWANI Ringkas.
Pegawai kastam maut dalam kemalangan babit tiga kenderaan
Seorang pegawai kastam maut dalam kemalangan membabitkan tiga kenderaan di Kilometer 18.2 Lebuh Raya Utara Selatan arah Utara, semalam.