Mighty Hurricane Matthew Swirls toward Haiti, Jamaica

Hurricane Matthew's strength is being felt in Jamaica as the island nation faces torrential rainfall and strong winds from the category 4 hurricane. Matthew is one of the most powerful Atlantic hurricanes in recent history.

Hurricane Matthew barreled its way through the Caribbean and roared toward Haiti, Jamaica and Cuba on Monday.

Two fishermen have died in rough water churned up by the approaching storm in Haiti, the Associated Press reported.

Matthew is expected "to bring life-threatening rain, wind and storm surge to portions of Haiti," the National Hurricane Center said.

Matthew could dump up to 25 inches of rain over much of southern Haiti, with "isolated maximum amounts of 40 inches," the hurricane center warned. Eastern Jamaica, the Dominican Republic and eastern Cuba could see 10 to 20 inches of rain with 25 inches in isolated areas.

In addition, storm surges in the region could cause catastrophic flash flooding.

Meteorologists said the Category 4 storm will likely track east of Florida later in the week, but that it was too soon to rule out its exact impact on the U.S. coast.

As of 11 a.m. ET, the hurricane center said the dangerous storm has top sustained winds near 140 mph and was moving to the north at 6 mph. It was located about 275 miles southwest of Port-au-Prince, Haiti.

A hurricane warning was in effect for Jamaica, Haiti, and portions of Cuba and the Bahamas.

The center of Matthew was forecast to approach Jamaica and southwestern Haiti late Monday and eastern Cuba on Tuesday.

Matthew briefly reached maximum Category 5 status Friday, making it the strongest Atlantic hurricane in almost a decade. The storm was expected to remain a powerful and dangerous hurricane into Tuesday, forecasters said.

Source: The Associated Press