FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. _ Hurricane Matthew strengthened quickly into a potentially catastrophic Category 4 hurricane Friday afternoon, with maximum wind speeds of 140 miles per hour.
"Matthew has continued to rapidly strengthen at a remarkable rate today," the National Hurricane Center said in its 5 p.m. EDT advisory.
The predicted path of the storm's center remains east of the Florida peninsula, although it's unclear how close it will come to land.
It's still unknown how much impact the storm could have on South Florida, whether it will remain far offshore or sweep the mainland with hurricane-force winds. The most dangerous time for South Florida is likely to be Tuesday through Thursday, the National Weather Service said. If the storm remains out to sea, possible impacts include coastal flooding, rip currents, rough surf and beach erosion.
Hurricane Center Director 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, " he said Friday. "The forecast could change a lot during the weekend."
The storm is about 465 southeast of Kingston, Jamaica, and is moving west-southwest at 9 mph.
It has sustained winds of 140 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.
Because of the uncertainty, hurricane specialist Michael Brennan noted in the latest advisory that "it is too soon to rule out possible hurricane impacts from Matthew in Florida."
One thing is certain, according to the experts. After the weekend, especially Tuesday through Thursday, the waters off South Florida's coast will become dangerous for boating, fishing and swimming.
"The Atlantic waters will become increasingly hazardous as Matthew moves away from Cuba," Reynes said during the briefing.
