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Hurricane Matthew Becomes Powerful Category 5 Storm

by VOA News

   Hurricane Matthew is expected to dump rain and chaos on the Caribbean
   as it gains power over the next few days.

   U.S. weather forecasters say Matthew has escalated into a powerful
   category five storm and is the strongest hurricane over the Atlantic
   Ocean since Felix in 2007. With maximum sustained winds of 260
   kilometers per hour and higher gusts, Matthew is expected to remain a
   powerful storm through Sunday.

   Tropical storm conditions are possible for Jamaica late Sunday, before
   hurricane winds hit Monday. The center of Matthew will move across the
   central Caribbean Sea on Saturday and approach Jamaica late Sunday,
   according to the National Hurricane Center. Tropical storm conditions
   are also possible in Haiti by late Sunday.

   Weather forecasters predict rainfall totals of 25 to 38 centimeters
   with isolated amounts of more than 63 centimeters across Jamaica and
   southwestern Haiti. The National Hurricane Center says these rains may
   produce "life-threatening flash flooding and mudslides."

   Swells generated by Matthew are expected to affect portions of the
   coasts of Puerto Rico, Hispaniola, Jamaica, Aruba, Bonaire, Curacao,
   Venezuela and Colombia during the next few days. These conditions are
   likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions.

   Rainfall totals of five to 10 centimeters with isolated higher amounts
   are expected over Aruba, Bonaire and Curacao through Saturday. Similar
   amounts of rain are also expected along the coasts of Colombia from the
   Venezuelan border to Richacha.

   Weather forecasters predict two to five centimeters of rain along the
   coast of Venezuela from Coro to the Colombian border.