FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. _ Hurricane Matthew's latest forecast track shifted northeast late Thursday afternoon, increasing the chances that Broward, Miami-Dade and Palm Beach counties could avoid the worst of the storm.
The National Hurricane Center also reduced the predicted maximum wind speed of the storm as it nears South Florida from 145 mph to 140 mph.
"The more northward movement of Matthew today has significantly improved the forecast for Miami-Dade County and much of the interior," the National Weather Service said, after the updated forecast came out. "There is also some improvement for Broward, Palm Beach and the Lake Okeechobee area, but these areas are still under higher threat."
A wind gust of 59 mph was reported Thursday afternoon at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, as the rain bands of Hurricane Matthew start sweeping over South Florida.
A major band approaching from 30 miles off shore was expected to produce tropical-force winds of at least 40 mph late Thursday afternoon, according to the National Weather Service. A weather station at Lake Worth Pier reported a sustained wind of 38 mph, just short of the minimum for tropical strength of 39 mph, and a gust of 45 mph.
Broward County announced all roads will be closed at 3 p.m., although there would be no enforcement.
The storm knocked out power to 4,150 customers in Broward County, 7,150 in Miami-Dade and 1,000 in Palm Beach, according to Florida Power & Light. It has been restored to 8,020 customers.
An Air Force Hurricane Hunter plane detected sustained winds of 140 mph, as the storm came within 100 miles of West Palm Beach, according to the 5 p.m. EDT advisory from the National Hurricane Center. The storm is traveling northwest at 13 mph.
President Barack Obama issued an emergency declaration for Florida on Thursday, as Hurricane Matthew approached the state as an "extremely dangerous" Category 4 storm. The storm is forecast to achieve sustained winds of 145 mph by the time it nears Florida.
An emergency declaration allows the Federal Emergency Management Agency to coordinate disaster relief and authorizes federal funding for disaster relief.
The odds of the storm's eye passing over Broward or Palm Beach counties appeared to decline slightly, but both counties remain at risk. The latest forecast cone, showing possible paths for the storm's center, shifted east, indicating a reduced chance of a direct hit on those counties. Even if the eye remained well off shore, the storm still could generate hurricane-force winds on land.
"We still can't pinpoint exactly where the center will be tonight, whether it will be on shore in Palm Beach County or someplace farther north," said Rick Knabb, director of the National Hurricane Center. "Even if the center of circulation passes east of your location here in South Florida, that doesn't mean you won't get all the hazards."
Major hurricane-force winds, meaning speeds of at least 111 mph, are expected Thursday night in Palm Beach County and possibly Broward County, with the northeast part of Broward at highest risk in that county, the weather service said.
Palm Beach County can expect hurricane-force winds from 9 p.m. Thursday to 6 a.m. Friday, the National Weather Service said. Although Broward is less likely to see hurricane-force winds, if they do arrive it could be from 9 p.m. to 3 a.m.
Tropical-force winds would arrive earlier and stay later. Palm Beach County can expect tropical-force winds from 3 p.m. Thursday through 8 a.m. Friday, Broward County from 3 p.m. Thursday to 3 a.m. Friday, and Miami-Dade County from 3 p.m. Thursday to 1 a.m. Friday.
The storm previously was forecast to reach a maximum sustained wind speed of 130 mph as it neared South Florida. But now, as satellite photos showed the storm becoming better organized, with the reemergence of a distinct and narrow eye, the hurricane center said it could produce winds of 145 mph.
"Right now the main concern for South Florida continues to be the threat of major hurricane-force winds, particularly across portions of Palm Beach County," said Pablo Santos, meteorologist in charge at the National Hurricane Center, said Thursday morning. "We're talking about the threat of widespread to potentially locally devastating impacts across those portions of the county."
About 150,000 people were ordered evacuated in Palm Beach County Wednesday night, as the storm's projected course shifted closer to South Florida.
The evacuation order, which will not involve the forceable removal of anyone, applies to residents of barrier islands, mobile homes and low-lying areas. Broward announced a voluntary evacuation for the beach, mobile home residents and those in low-lying areas.
Palm Beach County's emergency management director said he is concerned people are not taking evacuation orders seriously.
As winds picked up, only 1,600 people were in the county's 15 shelters as of 11 a.m., said Bill Johnson, director of Palm Beach County Emergency Management. About 75 people are in the county's shelter for residents with special medical needs.
"Your window is getting shorter and shorter," he said. "If you need to move, move now."
Florida Gov. Rick Scott urged residents of evacuation zones to leave immediately.
"Time is up," he said in a statement Thursday morning. "You have to evacuate now if you are in an evacuation zone. To everyone on Florida's east coast, if you are reluctant to evacuate, just think of all the people the Hurricane has already killed. You and your family could be among these numbers if you don't take this seriously."
A flood watch has been issued for Palm Beach County that will be in effect until Friday afternoon.
The Palm Beach County evacuation order came as the National Weather Service raised its estimate that Palm Beach County could experience hurricane-force winds to 50 percent and the National Hurricane Center warned of "life-threatening" storm surge from northern Palm Beach County up the coast.
Gov. Scott activated another 1,000 members of the Florida National Guard, bringing the total to 2,500. He announced a suspension of tolls on Florida's Turnpike and other roads in the affected areas.
The storm's forecast path placed the central Florida coast near the center of the cone of possibilities for the storm's core. But the cone shows much of the southeastern United States at risk of a direct hit, from South Carolina to northern Miami-Dade County.
The projection also increased the disturbing possibility that somewhere off Georgia or the Carolinas the storm could loop to the south and make another run at South Florida next week.
Broward County's Emergency Operations Center in Plantation was at full activation Thursday, with more than 300 representatives of law enforcement, fire-rescue, water and utilities agencies.
Broward Mayor Marty Kiar said "widespread power outages'' are predicted in Broward by Florida Power & Light, which has 10,000 extra workers in Florida to help.
Broward and Miami-Dade counties announced voluntary evacuations. All counties opened emergency shelters. Delray Beach announced a curfew from 6 p.m. Thursday to 6 a.m. Friday.
Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport and Palm Beach International Airport have closed.
The possibility that South Florida could be struck by a storm of at least Category 3 strength represents the greatest hurricane threat to the region in many years. A Category 3 storm, which produces winds of 111-129 mph, is capable of causing "devastating" damage, according to the hurricane center.
The current forecast calls for the storm to be a low-end Category 4 storm. A Category 4 storm will cause "catastrophic damage," according to the hurricane center.
"Well-built framed homes can sustain severe damage with loss of most of the roof structure and/or some exterior walls," according to the hurricane center. "Most trees will be snapped or uprooted and power poles downed. Fallen trees and power poles will isolate residential areas. Power outages will last weeks to possibly months."
Although wind is the major hazard, the National Hurricane Center said northern Palm Beach County and coastal areas to the north could experience dangerous storm surge, as the wind pushes ocean water onto land.
Although Matthew is not expected to produce rain comparable to the torrents dumped on Haiti, the storm could bring several inches to some areas.
To make room for the rain to drain off land, the South Florida Water Management District, which operates the region's main drainage system, has lowered canal levels throughout the region.
"The system is poised and in a good position," said John Mitnik, the district's chief engineer.
Matthew could bring about 4 inches of rain across Palm Beach County, with about 2 inches in Broward County and 1 inch in Miami-Dade County, according to the water district.
In Broward County, storm surge is considered to be less of a threat, which means fewer evacuations are likely, said Miguel Ascarrunz, Broward County's director of emergency management.
"The storm-surge threat is minimal at this time," he said at a briefing at the county Emergency Operations Center in Plantation.
But the county wants people in mobile homes, coastal communities or low-lying areas to seek shelter.
The Coast Guard closed Miami, Miami River, Port Everglades, Port of Palm Beach and other southeast Florida ports. The Coast Guard set Port Condition Zulu, which establishes a safety zone around the ports, prohibiting traffic in or out without permission and any ship-to-shore activities.
A second storm in the tropics has reached hurricane strength. Hurricane Nicole is spinning about 345 miles south of Bermuda with maximum sustained winds of 80 mph. There are no watches or warnings linked to Nicole. The storm is moving north-northwest, roughly in the direction of Bermuda, at 8 mph.
