Hurricane Matthew update; frost advisory MN early Sunday

Hurricane Matthew made landfall late Saturday morning near McClellanville, South Carolina, which is northeast of Charleston.  Matthew moved northeastward Saturday afternoon as a category one hurricane. Heavy rain, damaging winds and dangerous storm surges hit many areas along the Carolina coast.

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

Here is the late Saturday afternoon advisory from the National Hurricane Center:

HURRICANE MATTHEW ADVISORY NUMBER  43

NWS NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL       AL142016

500 PM EDT SAT OCT 08 2016

...TORRENTIAL RAINS SPREADING INLAND ACROSS THE CAROLINAS WHILE

MATTHEW HUGS THE COAST...

SUMMARY OF 500 PM EDT...2100 UTC...INFORMATION

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

LOCATION...33.8N 78.2W

ABOUT 15 MI...20 KM WSW OF CAPE FEAR NORTH CAROLINA

ABOUT 105 MI...170 KM WSW OF CAPE LOOKOUT NORTH CAROLINA

MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...75 MPH...120 KM/H

PRESENT MOVEMENT...ENE OR 70 DEGREES AT 13 MPH...20 KM/H

MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...977 MB...28.85 INCHES

WATCHES AND WARNINGS

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

CHANGES WITH THIS ADVISORY:

The Hurricane Warning from South Santee River southward has been

discontinued.

SUMMARY OF WATCHES AND WARNINGS IN EFFECT:

A Hurricane Warning is in effect for...

* North of South of Santee River 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 500 PM EDT (2100 UTC), the center of Hurricane Matthew was

located near latitude 33.8 North, longitude 78.2 West. Matthew is

moving toward the east-northeast near 13 mph (20 km/h), and this

motion is expected to continue tonight and early Sunday. On the

forecast track, the center of Matthew will be near the coast of

southern North Carolina by this evening.

Maximum sustained winds remain near 75 mph (120 km/h) with higher

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

Matthew is expected to remain near hurricane strength while the

center is near the coasts of North Carolina.

Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 25 miles (35 km) mainly

over water to the east of the center.  Tropical-storm-force winds

extend outward up to 185 miles (295 km). Multiple private weather

stations along the coast of South Carolina near Myrtle Beach have

recently reported hurricane-force wind gusts.

The minimum central pressure estimated from Air Force aircraft data

is 977 mb (28.85 inches). CORMP buoy 41024 near the center also

reported a minimum pressure of 977.8 mb (28.87 inches).

HAZARDS AFFECTING LAND

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

WIND:  Hurricane and tropical storm conditions are expected to

continue over the warning area this afternoon, and spread northward

elsewhere within the warning area through tonight.

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 tonight.

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...

Murrells Inlet, South Carolina, to Duck, North Carolina, including

portions of the Pamlico and Albemarle Sounds...3 to 5 ft

Along the Georgia and South Carolina coasts southwest of Matthew's

center, inundation caused by Matthew's storm surge will slowly

recede today.

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 Murrells Inlet, South Carolina to Salvo,

North Carolina including portions of the Pamlico Sound.  There is

the possibility of life-threatening inundation during the next 48

hours from Salvo to Duck, North Carolina including portions of the

Albemarle Sound. 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 from northeast South Carolina into northeast North

Carolina and southeast Virginia, with possible isolated totals of 20

inches possible. This rainfall may result in life-threatening

flooding and flash flooding.

TORNADOES:  A couple of tornadoes are possible this afternoon along

the coast of North Carolina.

SURF:  Swells generated by Matthew will continue to affect much of

the coast of the southeastern United States through early next week.

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

conditions. Please consult products from your local weather office.

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 North Carolina overnight and Sunday morning:

Matthew is expected to weaken on Sunday, and move away from North Carolina's coast as a tropical storm Sunday afternoon.

The National Hurricane Center will post regular Hurricane Matthew updates.

Frost early Sunday

Lows in the 30s are expected early Sunday morning, and a frost advisory has been issued by the National Weather Service:

Warmer lows are expected Monday through Wednesday.

Highs Sunday will be close to normal:

Some spots in southern Minnesota will hit the lower 60s.

Monday's highs will be even warmer:

Some thermometers in the Twin Cities metro area could touch 70 degrees Monday afternoon.

If you're wondering about rain, we could see some showers late Tuesday into early Wednesday.

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.