Powerful Hurricane Matthew Holding Steady at Category 4

SARASOTA, FL — Hurricane Matthew's strength and speed held steady heading into the overnight hours Sunday. According to the National Hurricane Center, the strong Category 4 storm was packing maximum sustained winds of 145 mph as of 8 p.m. Sunday.

While Hurricane Matthew gets top billing in the tropics, that storm wasn't the only one under watch Sunday. Forecasters are also keeping a close eye on a disturbance in the Atlantic Ocean.

As of 8 p.m. Sunday, Matthew was located about 335 miles south-southwest of Port Au Prince, Haiti. The storm was moving northwest at 5 mph.

On its current forecast track, Matthew is expected to approach southwestern Haiti and Jamaica on Monday before moving on to Cuba. Matthew’s chances of striking Florida have diminished significantly, but are still present. As of 8 p.m. Sunday, forecasters anticipate Matthew would pass by the Sunshine State offshore of the east coast. The system may have, however, an impact on weather that spreads across the state as it moves north between Wednesday and Friday.

As of Sunday morning, forecasters at the National Weather Service’s Ruskin office were urging residents and visitors to the state to keep an eye on the storm’s progress.

Matthew’s reach with hurricane-force-winds was 35 miles as of Sunday afternoon. Tropical-storm-force winds were extending out 205 miles. Fluctuations in strength are anticipated, but the hurricane center warns the storm will remain a major hurricane at least through Monday.

While Matthew continues its trek through the Caribbean Sea, another system also has forecasters’ attention. A broad low pressure system was located about 500 miles northeast of the Leeward Islands as of Sunday afternoon. That system is moving northwest at 10-to-15 mph. Forecasters have set development chances at 30 percent through the next five days. It is still too early to tell if the storm will have any impact on the United States.

Hurricane Matthew’s formation 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