'Extremely Dangerous' Hurricane Matthew Just Offshore of Florida

TAMPA, FL — Hurricane Matthew was moving just off Florida's east coast Friday morning, packing maximum sustained winds of 120 mph, according to the National Hurricane Center. Still a powerful Category 3 storm, Matthew is expected to pummel Florida with winds and rain throughout much of the day Friday. For updates on the storm's path and potential impacts, sign up for Patch news alerts.

As of the hurricane center's 5 a.m. Oct. 7 update, Matthew was positioned 40 miles east-southeast of Cape Canaveral. The system was moving north-northwest at 13 mph. Matthew's track shifted to the east late Thursday. On its current projected path, the storm is expected to skirt the coast throughout the day Friday.

Hurricane-force winds extended out up to 60 miles Friday morning. Tropical storm-force winds extended out 185 miles, forecasters said.

Thousands were without power overnight as the storm's winds began to impact the state. Just after midnight Friday, Gov. Rick Scott said more than 140,000 Floridians were without power.

Hurricane warnings are up along much of the east coast. In the Tampa Bay area, a tropical storm watch is in place. A warning means conditions are likely within a designated area, generally within 48 hours. A watch means conditions are possible within a designated area.

Tropical storm warnings had also gone up from the Anclote River to the Suwanee River as of late Thursday morning. Pasco, Pinellas, Hillsborough and Manatee county schools made the decision to cancel classes Friday in light of the storm's potential impacts on the region. Manatee and Pasco counties have also declared local states of emergency.

With a large portion of Florida in Matthew’s possible projected path, Scott declared a state of emergency for all counties earlier in the week. Scott also announced a partial activation of the Florida National Guard well in advance of the storm.

On Thursday, as Matthew drew closer, Scott announced the decision to activate more guard members. There were 2,500 guard members activated across the state with more than 4,000 standing ready. An estimated 1.5 million Floridians were under evacuation orders.

"Time is up," Scott said Thursday. "You have to evacuate now if you are in an evacuation zone."

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President Barack Obama was briefed about Matthew's progress by the Federal Emergency Management Agency Wednesday. Following that briefing, Obama reportedly said the federal government is prepared to respond where needed. He also stressed the need for the public to heed warnings. "This is a serious storm," several media outlets quoted him as saying.

Hurricane Matthew has been blamed for at least 108 deaths in Haiti alone, according to media reports.

Projections for Matthew's path after its anticipated run-in with Florida include a trek through Georgia, South Carolina and possibly a sliver of North Carolina. The storm may then spin back south toward Florida by Tuesday with a possible second impact not entirely out of the question as of the hurricane center's 11 p.m. Thursday update.

While Hurricane Matthew bears down on Florida, it's not the only hurricane on the scene. Nicole was upgraded to hurricane status Thursday afternoon and was a Category 2 storm by the 11 p.m. Thursday update. Hurricane Nicole was located about 340 miles south of Bermuda late Thursday night and was packing maximum sustained winds of 105 mph.

Nicole was stationary Thursday night, but was expected to begin a southward drift on Friday. It is not a threat to land at the present time.

Forecasters expect the system will more or less spin in a tight circle over the next few days. The system does have hurricane-force winds that extend out 15 miles and has tropical storm-force winds that extend out 90 miles.

The rise of activity in the tropics comes at the peak of the 2016 Atlantic hurricane season. Forecasters at the hurricane center say the eight-week period that begins in mid-August and runs through mid-October is a “season within the season.” This eight-week period “is often the most active and dangerous time for tropical cyclone activity,” NOAA explained on its website.

The eight-week period is historically responsible for major spikes in tropical weather activity, NOAA said. In fact, it accounts for about 78 percent of all tropical storm days on record. It is also the period when 87 percent of the Category 1 and 2 hurricane days on record occurred. In addition, this period is responsible for “a whopping 96 percent of the major (category 3, 4 and 5) hurricane days.”

Tampa Bay hasn’t been struck by a hurricane in more than 90 years. Even so, it’s had some close calls this year. Most recently, Hurricane Hermine left flooding woes in her wake as she passed by on her way to the Panhandle. Experts say the region's lucky streak isn’t likely to last. It’s not a question of if, but when, forecasters say.

To find out more about hurricane season and storm preparation, read these related Patch stories:

• Hurricane Season 2016: Where To Find Local Information
• 2016 Atlantic Hurricane Season’s Peak is Now
• 2016 Atlantic Hurricane Season Forecast Released
• Hurricane Season: How to Prepare
• 2016 Hurricane Names: Is Yours On the List?
• Tampa Bay 'Ripe for Disaster,' Hurricane Experts Say

To keep up with storm activity as the season develops, bookmark the National Hurricane Center’s website, and keep an eye on your hometown Patch site for local information.

Graphics courtesy of NOAA