SEYMOUR JOHNSON AIR FORCE BASE, N.C. --
UPDATE, Oct. 6, 9:30 a.m.: Hurricane Matthew is a strong Category 3 hurricane located 255 miles southeast of West Palm Beach, Florida, moving northwest at 12 miles per hour. Matthew will move into a more favorable environment over the next several hours and is forecast to strengthen into a Category 4 hurricane before encroaching on the Florida coastline. Matthew will move up the eastern seaboard and is expected to make an eastward turn late Saturday into Sunday and begin to move southward back toward the Bahamas on Monday into Tuesday.
Based upon the current track, Fort Fisher is still expected to see tropical storm conditions and heavy rain with upward of 10 - 12 inches. Gusty winds and 4 - 6 inches of rain are expected here at Seymour Johnson. Localized flooding is expected in the area.
UPDATE, Oct. 6, 8 a.m.: Seymour Johnson AFB is currently under Hurricane Condition 4, which means destructive winds are possible within 72 hours.
Hurricane Matthew is forecast to take a sharp right turn on Saturday and head eastward into the Atlantic Ocean, which is more favorable for Seymour Johnson AFB. Matthew is still a strong Category 3 hurricane and expected to strengthen to a Category 4 when skirting Florida before it slowly weakens again. Bear watch for any other major shifts and check-in here for more information.
UPDATE, Oct. 5, 11 a.m.: Seymour Johnson AFB is currently under Hurricane Condition 5, which means destructive winds are possible within 96 hours.
As of 7 a.m., Oct. 5, Hurricane Matthew is located 65 miles NNW of the eastern tip of Cuba moving north at approximately 10 mph.
Hurricane Matthew is a strong Category 3 hurricane and is expected to strengthen to a weak Category 4 as it pushes into the Bahamas and toward the Florida coast by Friday morning. Based upon the current track, hurricane force winds are still expected to impact Fort Fisher, while tropical storm force winds could be seen here at Seymour Johnson AFB.
Members of Team Seymour can follow the official Seymour Johnson Air Force Base Facebook page for up-to-date information on Hurricane Matthew at facebook.com/seymourjohnsonairforcebase.