Though the worst from Hurricane Matthew will be felt on the east coast, the storm is having effects on the Tampa Bay area.
As of 11 a.m., all tropical storm watches and warnings for the Tampa Bay area have been cancelled as the storm moves further north away from the area.
For much of the Tampa Bay area, sustained winds of 20-30 miles per hour are expected with higher gusts, especially in rain bands on the fringes of Matthew.
Here’s a list of closures and other need-to-know information as Matthew departs:
SCHOOLS
Hillsborough, Pinellas, Pasco, Manatee, Hernando, Polk and Citrus County schools will be closed today.
In Pinellas and Pasco Counties, after school events, such as football games, are also canceled for the day.
Hillsborough County football games will go on as scheduled tonight, with two changes:
* Wiregrass Ranch vs Wharton High School football game has been moved to Saturday at 11 am at Wharton HS.
* Sarasota Riverview vs Riverview High School football game has been moved to Saturday at 5 pm at Spoto HS.
Pasco-Hernando State College campuses will be closed and all classes are canceled today.
The Florida A&M University satellite campus in Tampa will be closed today.
The University of Florida has postponed its Saturday football game against Louisiana State University.
GOVERNMENT OFFICES:
State offices in the following counties are closed today: Hillsborough, Pinellas, Pasco, Manatee, Highlands, Polk, Citrus, Sumter, DeSoto and Hardee.
The Pinellas County Tax Collector offices at 743 South Pinellas Avenue, Suite #A-7, in Tarpon Springs and at 1067 62nd Avenue South in St. Petersburg will be closed today.
Offices of The Florida Department of Health in Hillsborough and Pinellas counties are closed today.
The Citrus County Sheriff's Office buildings and all county buildings will be closed today.
Head Start and Early Head Start centers in Hillsborough County are closed today.
All other offices and facilities are open in Hillsborough.
The following Pasco County government offices are closed: Clerk and Comptroller, courts, Health Department and Tax Collector’s office in Dade City.
The following municipality offices in Pasco are also closed: St. Leo, San Antonio, Dade City, Zephyrhills
RESCHEDULED
The start of the University of South Florida Homecoming Carnival has been delayed from noon until 4 p.m. All other Homecoming events, including the Running of the Bulls Parade, will take place as scheduled.
The downtown Brooksville Founders’ Week activities scheduled for Saturday will be moved to Oct. 15.
CLOSURES
Clearwater Beach lifeguards are flying double red flags, which means no swimming.
Hernando County Parks and Recreation Department closed Pine Island Park.
Pasco County Parks and Natural Resources camping areas at Crews Lake, Wilderness Park, J.B. Starkey Wilderness Park, and Withlacoochee River Park are closed until further notice.
All parks will be closed today with the exception of the ungated Rogers Park, Bayport Park, Jenkins Creek and the Hernando Beach boat ramp. All parks are expected to re-open Saturday.
The City of Tampa will keep all Recreation facilities open until 6 p.m. today, free of charge. A light meal will be provided.
Disney officials said on the company's website that theme parks, water parks, Disney Springs, the miniature golf course and the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex are closed today.
Universal Studios Florida, Universal's Islands of Adventure and Universal Citywalk are closed today.
SeaWorld is closed today.
OTHER TRANSPORTATION:
As of 10:30 a.m., Tampa International Airport is reporting normal operations with minimal delays and some cancellations to and from airports impacted by Hurricane Matthew, mainly Fort Lauderdale Hollywood, Miami, Jacksonville and the Bahamas.
Jacksonville Airport is closed Friday. Airport officials are telling customers to contact the airline and not the airport for re-booking.
Orlando International Airport is closed and plans to re-open Saturday.
Miami International Airport will remain open.
Hernando County Transit suspended TheBus services through Monday.
SHELTERS:
About a dozen people from the east coast used a shelter in Clearwater at the Ross Norton Recreation Center.
Pasco County issued a voluntary evacuation order for residents in manufactured homes east of I-75. The county closed a shelter Friday morning at Wiregrass High School in Wesley Chapel. Six residents and one dog used the shelter Thursday night.
About a dozen evacuees from Florida's east coast used a shelter at the Ross Norton Recreation Center in Clearwater.
Seven people spent the night at a St. Petersburg shelter at Northside Baptist Church, 6000 38th Ave N.
Hillsborough County has closed six of the seven emergency shelters that opened on Thursday. Burnett Middle School, located at 1010 N. Kingsway Road in Seffner remains open.
Hernando County Emergency Management Officials opened a shelter at The Mining Association Enrichment Center, 800 John Gary Grubbs Boulevard, Brooksville.
Citrus County has closed a pair of shelters in Locanto. Fifteen people used the Primary School shelter, while five used the Renaissance Center. Most of the people were evacuees from the east coast.
The Salvation Army is serving meals at the Florida State Fairgrounds for people seeking shelter from the east coast. The nonprofit is also stocking its mobile feeding units with food to serve 500 meals. The will deploy to the east coast as soon as conditions are safe.
SANDBAGS:
Tampa sandbag sites are open from 10 a.m.-7 p.m. until further notice:
*Bobby Hicks Pool
*Barksdale Active Adult Center
*Jackson Heights Playground
Manatee County sandbag sites will open from 8 a.m.-6 p.m. today:
* Buffalo Creek Park, 7550 69th St. E., Palmetto
* G.T. Bray Park, 5502 33rd Ave. Dr. W., Bradenton
* Lakewood Ranch Park, 5350 Lakewood Ranch Blvd., Bradenton
* Stormwater Ops, 5511 39th St. E., Bradenton
* Rubonia Community Center, 1309 72nd St. E., Palmetto
