Hurricane Matthew Forms with 75 MPH Winds

TAMPA, FL — It's official: Hurricane Matthew is now moving its way westward across the Caribbean Sea on a projected path that may bring it in contact with Jamaica and Cuba early next week. As of Thursday afternoon, the storm was packing maximum sustained winds of 75 mph, according to the National Hurricane Center.

Matthew was upgraded from a tropical storm to a Category 1 hurricane Thursday afternoon. The system was located about 190 miles northeast of Curacao and was moving west at 17 mph, according to the hurricane center. Matthew is the 13th named storm in the 2016 Atlantic Hurricane Season.

As of Thursday afternoon, governments in Bonaire, Curacao and Aruba had issued tropical storm watches. A watch means tropical storm conditions are possible. Interests in Venezuela and Colombia are also being warned to keep a close eye on the system’s development.

Hurricane center forecasters anticipate Matthew will gradually strengthen over the next 48 hours. Hurricane-force winds were reported up to 70 miles out from the storm's center. Tropical-storm-force winds were extending out from Matthew up to 205 miles from the center.

Matthew is expected to continue on a westward path until Sunday. After that, forecasters say the system should take a sharp turn north. On its current projected path, Matthew could pose a threat to Jamaica on Monday and Cuba between Monday and early Tuesday morning.

It’s still too early to tell what, if any, impact the storm might have on Florida. As of Thursday afternoon, the projected path would put the storm east of Florida's coastline as it makes its way north after clearing Cuba on Tuesday.

Tropical Storm 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.

Graphic courtesy of NOAA