Matthew intensifies into a Category 1 hurricane

Published: Updated:
WINK

FORT MYERS, Fla. — Tropical storm no more. Matthew is now a Category 1 hurricane, according to the National Hurricane Center.

The storm has put Colombia on watch as it moves into the central Caribbean Sea, according to the hurricane center. Government officials in the country have issued a tropical storm watch for parts of its coast as Hurricane Matthew continues to intensify.

There is a possibility of a potential major Category 3 hurricane, some forecast models report. Forecasts predict the hurricane will not impact Florida because wind patterns will send the storm into the Atlantic Ocean, east of the state’s coast. It should avoid Southwest Florida, some computer models report, but Matthew needs to be closely monitored.

It will continue moving north and northwest throughout the Caribbean over the course of the next few days. Cuba, Jamaica, Hispaniola, and the Bahamas could see an impact from this system.

Matthew began as a tropical wave, and upgraded to a tropical storm Wednesday morning at 11 a.m. Matthew’s intense showers, storms and strong winds at 70 m.p.h. contributed to this change.

This transition from a wave to 60 mph tropical storm is rare. The last time this occurred was in 1961 with Hurricane Debbie.

The storm was then upgraded to a hurricane before 2 p.m. Thursday.

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