A Powerful Storm
Hurricane Matthew threatens Haiti, Jamaica, and Cuba
NOAA/GETTY IMAGES
This satellite photo shows Hurricane Matthew in the Caribbean Sea, just south of Cuba and Jamaica, on October 2.
Hurricane Matthew barreled toward Jamaica, Haiti, and Cuba on Monday morning. The eye, or center, of the Category 4 hurricane is expected to pass east of Jamaica and head close to the southwestern tip of Haiti late Monday or early Tuesday, according to the U.S. National Hurricane Center (NHC) in Miami, Florida. It is then on track to hit the eastern tip of Cuba on Tuesday afternoon. The areas are expected to be hard hit by dangerously strong winds and flash flooding.
“Wherever that center passes close to would see the worst winds, and that's what's projected to happen for the western tip of Haiti," said John Cangilosi. He is a hurricane specialist at the NHC. “There is a big concern for rains there and also a big concern for storm surge.”
Hurricanes are categorized 1 through 5, based on wind speed. A Category 4 storm, such as Matthew, has wind speeds between 130 and 156 miles per hour (mph). With 130-mph winds, Matthew is one of the most powerful Atlantic hurricanes in recent history. It briefly reached Category 5 strength (157 mph winds or higher), making it the strongest storm since Felix, in 2007.
RICHARDO MAKYN—AFP/GETTY IMAGES
People buy groceries and supplies before the arrival of Hurricane Matthew, in Portmore, Jamaica, on October 1.
Haiti Prepares
Haiti is bracing for flash floods and violent winds. Forecasters say that as much as 40 inches of rain could fall on some isolated areas of the country, which is the poorest in the western hemisphere. Haiti has struggled to rebuild after an earthquake rocked the country in 2010.
Haitian officials have set up about 1,300 emergency shelters—enough to hold 340,000 people—to prepare for the storm. The government broadcast radio announcements telling people to follow evacuation warnings rather than stay in their homes. “To those people living in houses that could collapse, it's necessary that you leave these houses to take refuge in schools and churches,” said interim President Jocelerme Privert.
On the Move
Heavy rain has already fallen on parts of Jamaica, flooding city streets. As of 8:00 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time, the storm was centered 220 miles southeast of Kingston, Jamaica, and about 280 miles southwest of Haiti’s capital, Port-au-Prince. The storm is moving north at 6 miles per hour.
After passing Jamaica and Haiti, Matthew is projected to reach Cuba. The eye of the storm is expected to pass about 50 miles east of a U.S. Navy base at Cuba’s Guantanamo Bay. U.S. authorities have evacuated families of U.S. service members living on the military base, transporting them to Florida. Emergency shelters have been set up in Cuba and authorities are bracing for winds in excess of 80 miles per hour. Hurricane watches have also been announced for the southeastern Bahamas and other parts of the Caribbean.
What is something you learned about hurricanes?
NOAA/GETTY IMAGES
This satellite photo shows Hurricane Matthew in the Caribbean Sea, just south of Cuba and Jamaica, on October 2.
Hurricane Matthew barreled toward Jamaica, Haiti, and Cuba on Monday morning. The eye, or center, of the Category 4 hurricane is expected to pass east of Jamaica and head close to the southwestern tip of Haiti late Monday or early Tuesday, according to the U.S. National Hurricane Center (NHC) in Miami, Florida. It is then on track to hit the eastern tip of Cuba on Tuesday afternoon. The areas are expected to be hard hit by dangerously strong winds and flash flooding.
“Wherever that center passes close to would see the worst winds, and that's what's projected to happen for the western tip of Haiti," said John Cangilosi. He is a hurricane specialist at the NHC. “There is a big concern for rains there and also a big concern for storm surge.”
Hurricanes are categorized 1 through 5, based on wind speed. A Category 4 storm, such as Matthew, has wind speeds between 130 and 156 miles per hour (mph). With 130-mph winds, Matthew is one of the most powerful Atlantic hurricanes in recent history. It briefly reached Category 5 strength (157 mph winds or higher), making it the strongest storm since Felix, in 2007.
RICHARDO MAKYN—AFP/GETTY IMAGES
People buy groceries and supplies before the arrival of Hurricane Matthew, in Portmore, Jamaica, on October 1.
Haiti Prepares
Haiti is bracing for flash floods and violent winds. Forecasters say that as much as 40 inches of rain could fall on some isolated areas of the country, which is the poorest in the western hemisphere. Haiti has struggled to rebuild after an earthquake rocked the country in 2010.
Haitian officials have set up about 1,300 emergency shelters—enough to hold 340,000 people—to prepare for the storm. The government broadcast radio announcements telling people to follow evacuation warnings rather than stay in their homes. “To those people living in houses that could collapse, it's necessary that you leave these houses to take refuge in schools and churches,” said interim President Jocelerme Privert.
On the Move
Heavy rain has already fallen on parts of Jamaica, flooding city streets. As of 8:00 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time, the storm was centered 220 miles southeast of Kingston, Jamaica, and about 280 miles southwest of Haiti’s capital, Port-au-Prince. The storm is moving north at 6 miles per hour.
After passing Jamaica and Haiti, Matthew is projected to reach Cuba. The eye of the storm is expected to pass about 50 miles east of a U.S. Navy base at Cuba’s Guantanamo Bay. U.S. authorities have evacuated families of U.S. service members living on the military base, transporting them to Florida. Emergency shelters have been set up in Cuba and authorities are bracing for winds in excess of 80 miles per hour. Hurricane watches have also been announced for the southeastern Bahamas and other parts of the Caribbean.
What is something you learned about hurricanes?
posted by Mr. Novelli @ 6:44 PM
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