“Powerful” Hurricane Matthew Continues North

Hurricane Matthew continued to move northward Monday as hurricane warnings and watches remained in effect across the northern Caribbean and the Atlantic.

While the storm turned toward the north (from a northwest trajectory) on Sunday night, it retained much of its Category 4 strength.

Hurricane warnings remained in effect for Jamaica, Haiti and the Cuban provinces of Guantanamo, Santiago de Cuba, Holguin, Granma, and Las Tunas, along with the southeastern Bahamas, including the Inaguas, Mayaguana, Acklins, Crooked Island, Long Cay, and Ragged Island.

Hurricane conditions were expected to hit Haiti and Jamaica on Monday evening.

Haiti’s fate was particularly concerning, with reports that the storm could be potentially “catastrophic” for parts of Haiti as it moved northward in the direction of the Turks and Caicos and the Bahamas.

Hurricane watches were also in effect for the Cuban province of Camaguey, the central Bahamas including Long Island, Exuma, Rum Cay, San Salvador, and Cat Island, and the Turks and Caicos Islands.

A tropical storm warning remained in effect for the Dominican Republic, from Barahona westward toward the Haitian border.

Matthew’s sustained winds were blowing near 130 mph with higher gusts.