WCF SECTION SPECIAL BULLETIN #11 – 10/07/16 – 0730

HURRICANE MATTHEW EXITS FLORIDA AND OFF OF SOUTH CAROLINA COAST

As of 0500, Hurricane Matthew, now having weakened to a Category 2 hurricane, was centered 20 miles southeast of Hilton Head, South Carolina.  Matthew was moving north-northeast at 12 miles per hour with sustained winds of 105 miles per hour.  Matthew is expected to continue its path towards the north-northeast, turning northeast, continuing to skirt the South Carolina and North Carolina coast before turning out into the Atlantic and eventually turning back southeast and eventually south towards the Bahamas, but is also predicted to be weakened by strong shear from the westerlies and by the time it reaches 27 degrees north, it is forecast to be a tropical depression.

All Hurricane Watches and Warnings and Tropical Storm Watches and Warnings for the State of Florida have been discontinued as of this morning.  At this time all ARES groups that had activated to support hurricane shelters in the West Central Florida Section had deactivated due to their shelters being closed and their assistance no longer being requested.  However please continue to monitor the advisories on Matthew as issued by the National Hurricane Center, as a much weakened Matthew could threaten our area once again in the middle of next week.

The West Central Florida Section would like to sincerely thank all ARES groups, CERT groups, and other amateur radio operators who made themselves available and provided communications for their served agencies during Hurricane Matthew.  Without all of you, this would not be possible.

This will be the last WCF Section Special Bulletin unless Matthew threatens our Section again.

END OF SPECIAL BULLETIN