Hurricane Matthew Surges Along Florida's East Coast
CHICAGO (CBS) -- Hurricane Matthew slammed into the east coast of Florida on Friday.
As of mid-morning, the area around Daytona Beach was facing the brunt of the Category 3 storm, with sustained winds of around 120 miles per hour.
Up to a foot or more of rain is possible, officials said.
Matthew is expected to produce 8-12 in of rain and even 15 inches in some areas. This may result in flooding and flash flooding. Stay inside
— Rick Scott (@SenRickScott) October 7, 2016
At 11am EDT, Hurricane Matthew was 35 miles east-northeast of Daytona Beach with maximum sustained winds of 120 mph.
— Rick Scott (@SenRickScott) October 7, 2016
The storm was expected to continue up the east coast of Florida and then Georgia and South Carolina before tracking back to the east and then making a looping U-turn back, a rare feature for hurricanes.
Latest chances for tropical storm force wind (40mph or greater) over the next five days. https://t.co/hVSvTV6jRc pic.twitter.com/DONWTVDuzd
— Craig Setzer (@CraigSetzer) October 7, 2016
11 AM advisory for #HurricaneMatthew Cat.3 with 120 mph winds moving NNW 12 mph Watch @CBSMiami at NOON @MiamiHerald pic.twitter.com/AAiGblUdvn
— Lissette Gonzalez (@LissetteCBS4) October 7, 2016
A storm surge warning remained in effect all the way into North Carolina.
The 11am Friday prototype storm surge warning now extends from Florida to N. Carolina. #Matthew @NOAA @NHCDirector https://t.co/R5OOOwlIzd pic.twitter.com/vTSCR5R66I
— National Hurricane Center (@NHC_Atlantic) October 7, 2016
It is the first Category 3 storm to hit the state since Wilma in 2005. Hundreds of thousands of customers are without power as of Friday morning.
Matthew largely skirted the Miami-Fort Lauderdale-Palm Beach areas of over 6 million people and hugged closer to the coast farther north, menacing such communities as Vero Beach, Daytona Beach, Cape Canaveral, St. Augustine and Jacksonville.