Hurricane Matthew: 9 U.S. Deaths Linked to Storm, Matthew Won't Make Dreaded Loop

CHARLESTON, SC — Nine U.S. deaths have been linked to Hurricane Matthew, a violent hurricane that challenged communities across the southeast as it slowly plowed from central Florida to the North Carolina coast. The storm is expected to head out to sea early Sunday morning and dissipate, avoiding a loop back to Florida that some forecasters had feared.

The Lowcountry got a good look at the damage from deadly Matthew's trip up the coast on Saturday. The South Carolina Department of Transportation was expected to reopen the Ravenel Bridge — an important link between Mount Pleasant and the Charleston peninsula, and a 3-mile stretch of U.S. 17. The structure had been closed after the storm passed over concerns that the suspension bridge may have been damaged by the winds.

Some roads were washed out, and a few others were still impassable Saturday night. More than 500,000 were without power across the state in the midst of the storm. Governor Nikki Haley said Saturday that evacuees were encouraged to stay away for the rest of the weekend to give crews a chance to continue recovery efforts. Local responders and more than 2,300 National Guard troops were assisting stranded residents Saturday afternoon.

Hurricane Matthew made landfall Saturday morning southeast of McClellanville, according to the National Hurricane Center. At 5 p.m., Matthew was 15 miles west-southwest of Cape Fear. Maximum sustained winds reached 75 mph, with stronger gusts. A hurricane warning had been lifted for Charleston, but remained for Georgetown and Myrtle Beach, as well as some of the North Carolina coast still expected to see the storm.

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Wind gust measurements reached 93 mph on Tybee Island, 83 mph in Beaufort and 87 mph at the airport on Hilton Head Island. A nearly 5 foot storm surge had been reported at Fort Pulaski, near Savannah and a 3.5 ft. storm surge had been reported at the Port of Charleston — second only to Hurricane Hugo.

Charleston Police Department is updating its Twitter feed with street closures due to the storm.

The rise of activity in the tropics comes at the peak of the 2016 Atlantic hurricane season. Forecasters at the hurricane center say the eight-week period that begins in mid-August and runs through mid-October is a “season within the season.” This eight-week period “is often the most active and dangerous time for tropical cyclone activity,” NOAA explained on its website.

The eight-week period is historically responsible for major spikes in tropical weather activity, NOAA said. In fact, it accounts for about 78 percent of all tropical storm days on record. It is also the period when 87 percent of the Category 1 and 2 hurricane days on record occurred. In addition, this period is responsible for “a whopping 96 percent of the major (category 3, 4 and 5) hurricane days.”

To find out more about hurricane season and storm preparation, read these related Patch stories:

• 2016 Atlantic Hurricane Season’s Peak is Now
• 2016 Atlantic Hurricane Season Forecast Released
• 2016 Hurricane Names: Is Yours On the List?

To keep up with storm activity as the season develops, bookmark the National Hurricane Center’s website, and keep an eye on your hometown Patch site for local information.

Includes reporting by Sherri Lonon | Image via NOAA