Risk of hurricane hit from Matthew diminishes

| 29/09/2016 | 36 Comments
Cayman News Service

Hurricane Matthew 8am Friday 30 September

(CNS): The risk that Hurricane Matthew could hit any of the Cayman Islands diminished Thursday night as forecasters at the National Hurricane Center predicted a turn to the north well before the storm reaches our area. Matthew is now expected to past well to the east of Cayman, but despite the change in the forecast path, officials from Hazard Management urged all Cayman residents to pay close attention to the system as there was potential for further development and changes in direction.

In the last NHC advisory bulletin last night at 11pm, Matthew was still strengthening as it headed towards the central Caribbean. Maximum sustained winds were near 80mph and it was moving west at around 14mph. Hurricane winds extend outward up to 45 miles and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 185 miles to the north of the centre.

Local officials advised the public to still ensure they have a three-day supply of non-perishable food and bottled water and their hurricane supply kits at the ready and be prepared to put hurricane plans in action.

Information about shelter locations and other recommended items for your emergency supply kit can be found on www.caymanprepared.gov.ky. The Hurricane Preparedness Booklet is also available in the racks on the ground floor reception area of the Government Administration Building.

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Comments (36)

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  1. Anonymous says:

    For all you jesus freaks: it goes north because of meteorological reasons, not because of any other reason.

  2. September Bosch says:

    I certainly hope it does not hit cayman! I have friends who are arriving today. I warned them about it, but they went on their vacation anyway. I hope everyone is safe and if any damage to anyone else, I pray it is minimal! STAY SAFE EVERYONE!

  3. Anonymous says:

    My family (including 3 children) are planning to visit Grand Cayman on Sunday. If hurricane Matthew turns North as predicted, and the airline is still travelling would you locals still recommend making the trip? I have no experience directly with hurricanes but I have been watching the NOAA all summer, so I can see that this is a powerful and somewhat unpredictable hurricane. Not sure if we should visit or cancel at this point. I guess we will know more as time goes on. How will the weather on the island be affected after the hurricane passes? Sending prayers to all who may be impacted.

    • Anonymous says:

      Yes. Assuming things proceed as predicted, the weather here should be fine, though the wind may shift to the north west/west making 7 mile beach a bit choppy. Otherwise I hope the northerly winds will produce pleasant cool weather.

      Don’t cancel yet, If the storm does threaten, the airline will cancel at no cost to you.

      Truthseeker

  4. Annie says:

    I think the best advise is to plan for the worst, and hope for the best.
    So, go buy basic supplies: water, batteries and tinned food. If you don’t end up needing it for Matthew save it for next year or donate to Meals on Wheels. Make sure you have some funds in cash, know where your passport is, and charge up all of your devices. Take a few minutes and check your hurricane shutters, and/or generator, if you have one. Refill any prescriptions you need, and buy a case of beer and a case of pop tarts. Gas up your car, and hope it stays east.

  5. Anonymous says:

    just bring it!….i got a gallon of water and 2# tins of corned beef #ready

  6. Andre Espeut says:

    whoever is out there and hasnt been hit by hurricane Mathew yet i wish you luck cause im about to get hit

  7. Anonymous says:

    There is a complete model consensus supporting a northward turn to about the Windward Passages, or over Cuba. There was also a complete model consensus with Paloma, which was forecast to turn west of Grand Cayman. When Paloma intensified, it eroded the ridge that was forecast to steer the hurricane west and north, and it ended up hitting the Sister Islands.

    Matthew has already intensified to Cat 3. It has been battling 20-kt. windshear and toughed it out. This morning the eyewall was eliptical, and reformed. If Matthew intensifies, it could quite possibly erode the ridge and go where it chooses. It will all hinge (imho) on how far west Matthew tracks before beginning the northward turn. Just a few degrees west of where it is currently forecast, could bring the storm to the Sister Islands.

    As Clausewitz said, “prepare for your enemy’s capabilities, not their intentions.”

    • Anonymous says:

      i am afraid you dont understand the synoptic situation. The ridge has been keeping it on a westerly path. If it erodes the ridge faster it would turn to the north faster.

    • Anonymous says:

      Oh stop it with all the pseudo-technical I’m-a-wannabe-meteorologist jargon and speak plain English.

      Your ‘humble’ opinion? Right.

      Re-formed or reformed? If reformed, hopefully for the better?

      • Anonymous says:

        I’m sorry my opinion wasn’t more clear to you. Which terms were difficult? “ridge” or “erode”? Your opinion, on the other hand, was very clear — you’re angry at someone, and I was handy. Happy to be of some use.

  8. Anonymous says:

    Wonderful news, can they also predict what number will play?

  9. Anonymous says:

    I’ve never seen or heard of an accurate weather forecast in my entire live, so I’m assuming this will hit us.

    • Anonymous says:

      don’t judge all weather forcasters on your cayman don foster experience……
      current hurricnae/tracking forecasting is spot on….
      hence i’m saying this now…matthew will not effect cayman!

  10. Anonymous says:

    My my, how confident we have become. Don’t let your guard down and take everything the computer model says as gospel. Prepare, just in case.

    • Andre Espeut says:

      thank you very muck i live in the cayman islands

    • Anonymous says:

      The only completely accurate weather radar I know about is own by our Creator – the God of this universe and he’s the 100% accurate Forecaster that exist, and he controls nature. He said, “When we think there is peace and safety, sudden destruction cometh upon us.” So let’s not place our TOTAL CONFIDENCE in man. The designers of the Titanic said it couldn’t sink, but it did. I can go on and on. Let’s not let down our guard. It’s best to be prepared just in case mother nature does what it want to do by the steering hand of God! Be aware that it all depends on how far west the storm travels before it turns north, if it does at all.

  11. Anonymous says:

    matthew….come get some!

  12. Anonymous says:

    Still prepare everyone. NHC have been wrong in the past still a dangerous looking storm.

  13. Anonymous says:

    If that cold front to the north stalls we are screwed.

    • Anonymous says:

      are you talking about the cold front that has already stalled and become stationary off the US east coast?

  14. Anonymous says:

    Predictions are best guesses and should be viewed as just that. Leading meteorologists have gotten it wrong before so it’s not quite time yet to stand at ease. The spaghetti might paint a different picture tomorrow.

  15. Anonymous says:

    Predictions are just that ! Nhc never mentioned anything about a turn to the west south west and that is the direction the storm is moving as of 8:00am 30 September, science is good but it still hasn’t got Mother Nature figured out , the threat is diminishing when the hurricane is gone and we haven’t been hit.

    • Anonymous says:

      Actually, the NHC has been predicting a possible dip to the WSW for several days now.

      TROPICAL STORM MATTHEW DISCUSSION NUMBER 4
      NWS NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL AL142016
      500 AM AST THU SEP 29 2016

      The initial motion is 275/14. Matthew is currently on the south
      side of a low- to mid-level subtropical ridge. This feature should
      steer the storm westward or even south of west during the next 48
      hours.

      Here is the archived graphics, showing the dip:

      http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2016/graphics/al14/loop_5W.shtml

      Truthseeker

    • Anonymous says:

      you really have not seen the forecast path which has always had to drift to the southwest in it

  16. Anonymous says:

    We should certainly not let our guard down until it has passed North of us. Prayers for all who have been and who will be affected.

    • Anonymous says:

      I agree.

      How soon we all forget! People nowadays rely far too much on computer-driven predictions and algorithms than on the fact that hurricanes are unpredictable, as well as killers. Over thirty years, I’ve seen countless storms ignoring what the computer tells them to do. I’ve even seen one veer southwards, having already passed to the north of us.

      Don’t rely on these forecasts, people. Stock up and be ready to batten down – fast. Sure, hope for the best; but plan for the worst.

  17. Anonymous says:

    Keep watching it, no one second guesses Mother Nature and spare a thought and a prayer for those in Matthews path.

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