As of Monday morning, latest National Hurricane Center models project that the storm will make it to the Lowcountry area by 2 a.m. Saturday, but the storm should track about 220 miles off coast of Charleston.
“Matthew’s track and timing is still very uncertain at this time,” Emily Timpte, meteorologists at the National Weather Service said. “Regardless, the [South Carolina] coast will see effects from this storm, even if it stays out to sea.”
Timpte said the storm could hit the Charleston area anywhere between Thursday and Saturday, depending on the speed.
“It’s also possible that the storm pushes closer to the coast,” Timpte said. “It’s just too early to determine at this point.”
The National Hurricane Center projects that the storm will still be a hurricane by the time it hits the South Carolina area.
The S.C. Emergency Management Division has begun initial preparations for Hurricane Matthew.
“If the storm says out to see, we could see windy conditions, showers, possible coastal flooding and rough surf,” Timpte said.
As of this morning, Matthew was 220 miles southeast of Kingston Jamaica. The category 4 hurricane is expected to hit Haiti tonight.
After Matthew soars through the Bahamas during the midweek, the U.S. East Coast will need to be on alert.
"What is clear is that Matthew should remain a powerful system all the way up until and even beyond transitioning to an extra tropical cyclone," AccuWeather Meteorologist Evan Duffey said.
The good news is that Matthew shouldn’t stay in the area long.
“From the models I’m looking at it, should be out of North Carolina by Sunday,” Timpte said.
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