Weather.com reported that no category 4 storm had struck anywhere in northern Florida or Georgia since 1898. The National Weather Service in Melbourne, Florida, meanwhile, echoed Scott’s grim warnings for Florida. The NHC reported that Matthew had strengthened significantly on its path through the Bahamas and a potential landfall on the central or northern Florida coast, which would make it the first major hurricane to strike Florida since Wilma in 2005. According to weather.com, no category 4 storm has struck anywhere in northern Florida or Georgia since 1898. Pat McCrory, the North Carolina governor, meanwhile extended an existing emergency declaration to all 100 counties in the state.

Source: The Guardian October 06, 2016 17:45 UTC