When will Hurricane Matthew hit the Bahamas? Latest weather forecasts, storm warnings
THE PEOPLE of the Bahamas braced for the imminent arrival of Hurricane Matthew later today.
Hurricane Matthew is hit the Bahamas after battering Jamaica, Haiti and Cuba
Hurricane Matthew is bringing up to 125mph gales to the Bahamas after causing destruction and flash floods in Haiti and Cuba.
After hitting the Bahamas, the hurricane is set to head further north across the Atlantic towards Florida and the East Coast.
When will Hurricane Matthew hit the Bahamas?
The category four hurricane is expected to hit the Bahamas today (Wednesday October 5), according to the National Hurricane Center (NHC).
The NHC warned that Hurricane Matthew will first wreak havoc in the southeastern Bahamas before moving on to the central Bahamas.
“Hurricane conditions are possible in the northwestern Bahamas on Thursday,” it said.
“Matthew is likely to produce devastating impacts from storm surge, extreme winds, heavy rains, flash floods, and/or mudslides.”
People in the Bahamas have rushed to stock up on emergency supplies and fortify their homes before it becomes too dangerous to go outside.
The hurricane has weakened to category three but the Met Office said: “It will still be a powerful hurricane and could bring a storm surge over many of the islands of 3-4 metres.”
This map shows the path of Hurricane Matthew
Weathering forecasting service AccuWeather warned that the hurricane could fell trees, cause power outages and lead to flooding.
AccuWeather meteorologist Evan Duffey said: “This is a dangerous system and there is a significant threat to life and property for all areas in the vicinity of it.”
9:45 am. Raining cats & dogs on Great Exuma #Bahamas. Chasing #Hurricane #MATTHEW pic.twitter.com/G8gFHpwLFS
— Josh Morgerman (@iCyclone) October 4, 2016
ISS captures DRAMATIC views of Hurricane Matthew
AccuWeather said: “Matthew will continue to pose hazards to lives and property across the island nation by unleashing damaging winds, flooding rain, dangerous seas and coastal flooding.”
The NHC’s Hurricane Warning covers the southeastern Bahamas including the Inaguas, Mayaguanna, Acklins, Crooked Island, Long Cay and Ragged Island.
The warning is also in place for the central Bahamas including Long Island, Exuma, Rum Cay, San Salvador and Cat Island.
In the northern Bahamas, it covers Abacos, Andros Island, Berry Islands, Bimini, Eleuthera, Grand Bahama Island and New Providence.