FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. _ More than 1,000 miles from South Florida, Hurricane Matthew became a major storm on Friday, packing winds of 115 mph as it reached Category 3 strength while moving through the Caribbean.
As of the 11 a.m. Friday update from the National Hurricane Center, it was still unclear as to whether the storm would bear down on South Florida.
Hurricane Center Director Dr. Richard Knabb says there's a lot of uncertainty in the forecast. "We can't tell the folks here in South Florida whether you will or will not get the effects of Matthew but the potential is there, " Knabb said Friday. "The forecast could change a lot during the weekend."
The hurricane is about 495 southeast of Kingston, Jamaica and is moving southwest at 12 mph.
Little change in Matthew's strength is expected during the next 48 hours.
According to the National Hurricane Center's advisory, Matthew is forecast to travel west through the Caribbean Sea, before making a northward turn.
Critical is when and where Matthew would turn north. "Any small deviation of the track that happens within the next 24 to 48 hours has a significant impact for moving closer or farther away from South Florida," National Weather Service meteorologist Anthony Reynes said during a Friday morning briefing.
