At 5:00 AM the National Hurricane Center reported the center of Tropical Storm Matthew to be located 300 miles southeast of San Juan. Matthew is moving toward the west at 16 mph. A westward motion with some decrease in forward speed is expected during the next couple of days.
On the forecast track, the center of Matthew is forecast to pass to the north of Aruba, Bonaire, and Curacao on Friday.
Maximum sustained winds are now near 65 mph with higher gusts. Strengthening is expected during the next couple of days, and Matthew is forecast to become a hurricane tonight.
Tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 185 miles primarily to the northeast of the center.
Tropical storm conditions are possible in Bonaire, Curacao, and Aruba beginning late today.
Matthew is expected to produce total rainfall accumulations of 4 to 8 inches across the Windward Islands and southern portions of the Leeward Islands through Thursday. These rains may produce life-threatening flash floods and mud slides. Rainfall totals of 1 to 2 inches are expected farther to the north into the northern Leeward Islands, including the United States and British Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico. Rainfall totals of 1 to 3 inches are expected over Aruba, Bonaire, and Curacao through Friday
The next update intermediate update will be issued by the National Hurricane Center at 8:00 AM.
The next complete advisory will be at 11:00 AM.
