MESSAGE: Tropical Storm Matthew forms in the Eastern Caribbean
THE SITUATION:
At 11:00 AM (EST), Wednesday September 28, 2016, the tropical disturbance that has been approaching the Eastern Caribbean was upgraded to a Tropical Storm. According to the National Hurricane Center (NHC), Miami, Florida, Tropical Storm Mathew, the 13th named storm of the 2016 Atlantic hurricane season, was formed near the Windward Islands and has acquired a closed circulation. It was centered at 11 a.m. AST about 35 miles (55 km) southeast of Saint. Lucia. Maximum sustained winds were near 60 mph (95 km/h) with higher gusts. Gradual strengthening during the next couple of days is forecast, and Matthew could become a hurricane by Friday.