Hurricane Matthew Expected To Be Strongest Caribbean Storm in a Decade

Hurricane Matthew, a category 4 hurricane with sustained winds of nearly 130 miles per hours, is expected to slam into Haiti, Jamaica, and Cuba early this week.

The eye of the hurricane was predicted to move toward southwestern Haiti and Jamaica on Monday and was expected to remain strong into late Tuesday, NBC News reported. Hurricane warnings were issued for all of Jamaica and Haiti along with the Cuban provinces of Guantanamo, Santiago de Cuba, Holguin, Granma, and Las Tunas.

Hurricane Matthew is the strongest storm to hit the Atlantic Ocean's tropic in a decade, according to NBC News. The storm was 230 miles south-southeast of Kingston, Jamaica early Monday moving north and six miles per hour, NBC News reported.

The Jamaica Observer reported Monday that the parishes of Portland, St. Thomas, St. Mary, Kingston, St. Andrew, St. Catherine, and St. Ann are expected to get the brunt of Matthew's rain and winds.

During a press conference at Jamaica's Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management, local government minister Desmond McKenzie said that the heavy rain could be catastrophic and asked for residents in low-lying areas to evacuate, reported the Jamaica Observer.

Officials were using public transit buses to move people from their homes in the Corporate Area in to the National Arena in Kingston, stated the Observer. The news website said that 900 shelters had been opened throughout the island for those fleeing the storm.

National Weather Service reported that Matthew could drop 25 inches of rain on southern Haiti, along with as much as 40 inches in isolated areas, according to CNN. The storm could make landfall there Monday night on its western tip.

The storm surge accompanying the hurricane could be as high as 10 feet while the heavy rain could trigger significant flooding and landslides, according to reports.

In Cuba, the United States is airlifting 700 family members of military personnel stationed at its naval base at Guantanamo Bay to Florida, reported CNN. Officials said remaining personnel would seek shelter in designated locations including their homes.

The 61 prisoners remaining in detention at Guantanamo Bay will not be evacuated, officials told CNN. Forecasters said it was not known if Matthew would directly affect the United States.

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