… MATTHEW MOVING WESTWARD THROUGH THE EASTERN CARIBBEAN SEA …

AT 5AM DST, THE CENTER OF TROPICAL STORM MATTHEW WAS LOCATED NEAR LATITUDE 14.0° NORTH AND LONGITUDE 64.7° WEST OR ABOUT 320 MILES SOUTH-SOUTHEAST OF SAN JUAN, PUERTO RICO.

MATTHEW IS MOVING TOWARD THE WEST NEAR 16 MPH, AND A GENERAL WESTWARD MOTION IS EXPECTED WITH SOME DECREASE IN FORWARD SPEED DURING THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS. ON THE FORECAST TRACK, THE CENTER OF MATTHEW IS FORECAST TO PASS TO THE NORTH OF ARUBA, BONAIRE, AND CURACAO ON FRIDAY.

MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS ARE NEAR 65 MILES PER HOUR (MPH) WITH HIGHER GUSTS. GRADUAL STRENGTHENING IS FORECAST DURING THE NEXT 48 HOURS, AND MATTHEW IS FORECAST TO BECOME A HURRICANE THURSDAY NIGHT.