Matthew is the fifth hurricane of the 2016 Atlantic hurricane season.
It has strengthened into a hurricane on Thursday in the eastern Caribbean Sea. Moreover, it is expected to take a sharp northern turn over the next few days threatening the United States sometime during the next week. For now, Jamaica, Haiti, the Dominican Republic, Cuba and the Bahamas are under the threat.
A tropical storm watch is in effect for the Caribbean Islands of Bonaire, Curacao and Aruba and portions of the Columbia coast during the next 24 to 36 hours.
Power outages were stated on several Caribbean islands, with Martinique and Barbados. The storm is likely to turn north or northwest late this weekend and into early next week.
Matthew will reach 100 mph on Monday, which is Category 2 strength.
How far Matthew extends west will direct whether or not the U.S. Gulf Coast or the Atlantic Seaboard will be at risk.
The storm's trail is being influenced by two important weather patterns; a southward dip in the jet stream over the south-central U.S. is expected to pull Matthew northward late this weekend. Another torrential downpour over the Northeast this weekend could push Matthew toward the Atlantic coast if it stays later into the week. Once that storm departs, Matthew can be drawn onshore in the Southeast.
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