Tonight’s situation report at 6:00 p.m. for Historic City News readers from Kelly Wilson in the office of St. Johns County Emergency Management. Conditions are expected to deteriorate considerably overnight.

The next Situation Report will be issued tomorrow at 12:00 p.m. unless conditions dictate an earlier report.

Evacuation Shelter Status:

Current Event Status:

• Hurricane Matthew is a dangerous category 4 hurricane with sustained winds of 140 MPH, about 100 miles ESE of West Palm Beach, moving northwest at 13 MPH. Hurricane force winds extend outward 60 miles from the center and tropical storm force winds extend outward 185 miles from the center.
• Major Hurricane Matthew is expected to move DANGEROUSLY CLOSE the Northeast Florida Coast Friday into Saturday morning with catastrophic damage is anticipated for coastal areas.
• Destructive, Life Threatening, coastal inundation in concert with extremely high, destructive surf is probable with Major Hurricane Matthew.
• The western eye wall is expected to move along portions of the coast with sustained winds of 115 to 125 mph in the most affected areas.

Expected local storm surge for the following areas:

• Vilano Beach 3-6 ft
• St Augustine 6-9 ft
• St Augustine Beach 3-6 ft
• Hastings 3-6 ft

Potential Local Impacts

• Life threatening storm surge greater than 9 feet Above Ground Level expected with large wave action on top of it.
• St Johns River and many other estuaries 6 to 9 Feet.
• Large, destructive breakers of 20 to 25 feet.
• Total devastation of barrier islands.
• New inlets will likely be cut in weak points on the barrier islands and peninsulas.
• Complete undermining and scouring of coastal roads.
• Extensive structural collapse along the immediate coast.

St Johns County Weather Outlook

• Tonight – Tropical storm conditions possible, with hurricane conditions also possible. Showers and possibly a thunderstorm. Low around 78. Northeast wind 17 to 22 mph, with gusts as high as 33 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%.
• Friday – Hurricane conditions expected. Showers and possibly a thunderstorm. Some of the storms could produce heavy rainfall. High near 81. Northeast wind 30 to 35 mph increasing to 40 to 60 mph. Winds could gust as high as 80 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%.
• Friday Night – Hurricane conditions expected. Showers and possibly a thunderstorm before 2am, then showers likely. Low around 73. West wind 50 to 70 mph decreasing to 26 to 31 mph. Winds could gust as high as 95 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%.

Johns County has issued a mandatory evacuation order for those residents living in Evacuation Zone A and Portions of Evacuation Zone B. This includes residents east of the Intracoastal Waterway including Ponte Vedra Beach, South Ponte Vedra Beach, Vilano Beach, St. Augustine Beach, Butler Beach, Crescent Beach and Summer Haven. In addition, residents generally located along the St. Johns River and west of State Road 13, including the Town of Hastings. Portions of Evacuation Zone B include residents who live south of the Northeast Florida Regional Airport east of US 1 to the County Line. Also, those residents living in boats, RVs, and mobile homes.

Curfew has been put in place beginning Thursday, October 6 from 8pm – 6 am on Friday, October 7, 2016 for the City of St. Augustine, City of St. Augustine Beach and portions of the County on the barrier islands. It will remain in effect nightly until further notice.