Hurricane Matthew pounds Carolina coast

Hurricane Matthew is bringing damaging winds, torrential rains and an impressive storm surge to the coast of South Carolina this Saturday morning.

The enhanced infrared satellite loop shows the highest and coldest (red) cloud tops near the center of Hurricane Matthew:

Here is the combination visible and infrared (temperature sensing) satellite view:

You can follow the visible/IR satellite loop as Matthew continues to move along the South Carolina and North Carolina coasts today and tonight.

Here is the latest advisory from the National Hurricane Center:

BULLETIN

HURRICANE MATTHEW INTERMEDIATE ADVISORY NUMBER  41A

NWS NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL       AL142016

800 AM EDT SAT OCT 08 2016

...STRONG WINDS AND DANGEROUS STORM SURGE AFFECTING THE COAST OF

SOUTH CAROLINA...

...HEAVY RAINS AND GUSTY WINDS SPREADING INLAND...

SUMMARY OF 800 AM EDT...1200 UTC...INFORMATION

----------------------------------------------

LOCATION...32.5N 79.8W

ABOUT 20 MI...35 KM SSE OF CHARLESTON SOUTH CAROLINA

MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...85 MPH...140 KM/H

PRESENT MOVEMENT...NE OR 45 DEGREES AT 12 MPH...19 KM/H

MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...962 MB...28.41 INCHES

WATCHES AND WARNINGS

--------------------

CHANGES WITH THIS ADVISORY:

None.

SUMMARY OF WATCHES AND WARNINGS IN EFFECT:

A Hurricane Warning is in effect for...

* North of Altamaha Sound to Surf City

A Hurricane Watch is in effect for...

* North of Surf City to Cape Lookout

A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for...

* North of Surf City to Duck

* Pamlico and Albemarle Sounds

For storm information specific to your area, including possible

inland watches and warnings, please monitor products issued by your

local National Weather Service forecast office.

DISCUSSION AND 48-HOUR OUTLOOK

------------------------------

At 800 AM EDT (1200 UTC), the center of Hurricane Matthew was

located by NOAA Doppler weather radars, and an Air Force Reserve

Hurricane Hunter aircraft, near latitude 32.5 North, longitude

79.8 West. Matthew is moving toward the northeast near 12 mph

(19 km/h), and this general motion is expected to continue today.

On the forecast track, the center of Matthew will continue to

move near or over the coast of South Carolina today, and be

near the coast of southern North Carolina by tonight.

Reports from the reconnaissance aircraft indicate that maximum

sustained winds have decreased to near 85 mph (140 km/h) with higher

gusts. Although weakening is forecast during the next 48 hours,

Matthew is expected to remain a hurricane while the center is near

the coasts of South Carolina and North Carolina.

Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 45 miles (75 km) from

the center, and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 185

miles (295 km).  A private weather station at Folly Beach reported

a wind gust of 76 mph (122 km/h). Strong wind gusts are also

occurring well inland in South Carolina. Orangeburg recently

reported a wind gust of 55 mph (89 km/h).

The minimum central pressure recently reported by an Air Force

reconnaissance aircraft was 962 mb (28.41 inches).

HAZARDS AFFECTING LAND

----------------------

WIND:  Hurricane and tropical storm conditions are expected to

continue over the warning area in Georgia and South Carolina

this morning, and spread northward elsewhere within the warning area

through today.

Residents in high-rise buildings should be aware that the winds at

the top of a 30-story building will be, on average, about one

Saffir-Simpson category higher than the winds near the surface.

Hurricane conditions are possible within the Hurricane Watch and

Tropical Storm Warning area in North Carolina by tonight or Sunday

morning, with tropical storm conditions expected later this morning.

STORM SURGE:  The combination of a dangerous storm surge, the tide,

and large and destructive waves will cause normally dry areas near

the coast to be flooded by rising waters moving inland from the

shoreline.  The water could reach the following heights above ground

if the peak surge occurs at the time of high tide...

Altamaha Sound, GA, to Edisto Beach, SC...6 to 9 ft

Edisto Beach, SC to Cape Fear, NC...5 to 7 ft

Cape Fear to Duck, NC, including portions of the Pamlico and

Albemarle Sounds...2 to 4 ft

The deepest water will occur along the immediate coast in areas of

onshore winds.  Surge-related flooding depends on the relative

timing of the surge and the tidal cycle, and can vary greatly over

short distances.  Large waves generated by Matthew will cause water

rises to occur well in advance of and well away from the track of

the center.  For information specific to your area, please see

products issued by your local National Weather Service forecast

office.

There is a danger of life-threatening inundation during the next 36

hours along the coast from Altamaha Sound, Georgia, to Cape

Fear, North Carolina.  There is the possibility of life-threatening

inundation during the next 48 hours from north of Cape Fear to Duck,

North Carolina, including portions of Pamlico and Albemarle Sounds.

For a depiction of areas at risk, please see the Prototype National

Weather Service Storm Surge Watch/Warning Graphic. For information

specific to your area, please see products issued by your local

National Weather Service forecast office.

The Prototype Storm Surge Watch/Warning Graphic is a depiction of

areas that would qualify for inclusion under a storm surge watch or

warning currently under development by the National Weather Service

and planned for operational use in 2017.  The Prototype Graphic is

available at hurricanes.gov.

RAINFALL: Matthew is expected to produce total rain accumulations of

8 to 12 inches near and east of Interstate 95 in South Carolina and

North Carolina, with possible isolated maximum amounts of 15 inches.

Matthew is expected to produce 2 to 6 inches of rain over central

South Carolina, western North Carolina, and southeastern Virginia.

Additional rain accumulations of 1 to 2 inches are expected over

eastern Georgia. In all of these areas rainfall may result in

life-threatening flooding and flash flooding.

TORNADOES:  An isolated tornado or two will be possible today along

the coast of North Carolina and northern South Carolina.

SURF:  Swells generated by Matthew will continue to affect portions

of the east coast of Florida during the next few days, and will

spread northward along the southeast U.S. coast through the weekend.

These swells will likely cause life-threatening surf and rip current

conditions. Please consult products from your local weather office.

Parts of South Carolina could see a storm surge of 6 to 9 feet today.

A glossary of terms that are used by the National Hurricane Center is available.

The National Hurricane Center “cone of uncertainty” shows that Matthew’s center may ride along or near the coast of South Carolina today, then along or near the North Carolina coast on Sunday:

The National Hurricane Center has a new storm surge product that is in the development stage.

It shows that the storm surge could move a good distance inland today, in several spots between Charleston and Myrtle Beach, SC:

The storm surge product can be zoomed in to get details of specific points.

The product comes with this explanation from NHC:

This map should only be used as a general guideline for understanding where storm surge flooding could occur given the current forecast situation. Regardless of what this map shows, always follow evacuation and other instructions from your local emergency management officials.

This map depicts the potential flooding that could be produced from storm surge during a tropical cyclone. Storm surge is water from the ocean that is pushed onshore by the force of the winds. Flooding from storm surge depends on many factors, such as the track, intensity, size, and forward speed of the tropical cyclone and the characteristics of the coastline where it comes ashore or passes nearby.

The National Hurricane Center will post regular Hurricane Matthew updates.

Cool Saturday, warmer Sunday

Highs will be cooler than normal today, with 40s over northern Minnesota and 50s to the south:

Low in the 30s are on tap for Sunday morning, and many areas could see frost:

Highs Sunday will be closer to normal, touching 60 in southern Minnesota:

Winds will be light to start the weekend, but they'll pick up a bit late Sunday as a high pressure system slides to our east:

Programming note

You can hear my live weather updates on Minnesota Public Radio at 7:35 a.m. and 4:35 p.m. each Saturday and Sunday.