Matthew is now a very powerful category 5 hurricane, the first such storm to form in the Atlantic basin since 2007.

The storm currently has sustained winds up to 160 mph, with higher gusts.  

Matthew has slowed its forward motion to 7 mph, but it's still moving west-southwest. A track to the north is expected sometime Monday as it slides near or over Jamaica, where a hurricane watch has been hoisted.

Matthew will maintain major hurricane status through early next week in the Caribbean.

If we see it turn northwest by Saturday night, it appears as though it will brush Jamaica sometime Monday afternoon, then move over eastern Cuba by Tuesday morning.

Any impacts here in Florida won’t be felt until the second half of next week. We'll have breezy conditions in our forecast across the peninsula Tuesday night and windy conditions for Wednesday and Thursday. Waves will begin climbing Wednesday and Thursday along our east coast, with the potential of beach erosion and coastal flooding late in the week.

Right now, a ridge of high pressure over Bermuda is holding firm. A developing trough in the southeastern U.S. is expected to dig into the Gulf of Mexico and remain in place, helping steer Matthew just east of Florida.

There are still several factors to monitor, so the best course of action right now is to prepare. We’re still in the peak of hurricane season, so you should always have your hurricane action plan ready to go.

Interactive Storm Tracker