Hurricane Matthew has made landfall in western Haiti.
The U.S. National Hurricane Center says the Category 4 storm made landfall around 7 a.m. Tuesday near Les Anglais, Haiti. Matthew's maximum sustained winds are near 145 mph.
The hurricane has pounded the southwestern coast of Haiti, threatening a largely rural corner of the impoverished country with devastating storm conditions as it heads north toward Cuba and the eastern coast of Florida.
The National Hurricane made a "significant shift" in its projected path of Hurricane Matthew on Monday afternoon, which could impact parts of Florida, Florida Public Radio Emergency Network meteorologist Jeff Huffman said.
“The midday shift in the models is quite noticeable and it makes sense since Matthew is moving a little slower,” Huffman said. “There's a chance for higher pressure to build in over the top of it or to the northeast side and that will force a more north northwest track a little closer to Florida. It is worth noting though that a direct landfall is not expected.”
However, the National Hurricane Center said that hurricane conditions are now possible in parts of Florida Thursday and Friday.”
Florida Gov. Rick Scott will make several stops at emergency management offices in the Florida Keys, Daytona Beach and north Florida to give updates on Hurricane Matthew and the storm's potential impact on the state.
Scott will be in Marathon at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday, before moving upstate in the afternoon.
The U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami says another landfall is expected in eastern Cuba. Forecasters say a tropical storm watch or hurricane watch is likely for parts of Florida later Tuesday.
Senior Hurricane Specialist Richard Pasch says Florida residents should remain vigilant because they can't "rule out the possibility of impacts."
A hurricane warning was issued Tuesday morning for the northwest Bahamas as Hurricane Matthew continues its march up the Caribbean.
The hurricane warning in the Bahamas includes the Abacos, Andros Island, Berry Islands, Bimini, Eleuthera, Grand Bahama Island, and New Providence.
