I'm here on the west coast of Florida, keeping an eye on the storm. It's just made its way through/past Haiti and is currently slamming the east of Cuba. Matthew is currently a category 4 (out of 5) hurricane, making it a major hurricane. I'm not sure about the history of storms in the lower islands, but Florida hasn't had a major hurricane hit since 2004/2005. I haven't seen any news on the damage in Haiti, Cuba, or even Jamaica yet but I can only imagine what kind of damage they're ailed with.

Are there any fellow Subetans in Florida or the lower islands? If in Florida, how are you preparing for it? If in the islands, how are the conditions? Are you safe? From the looks of it, the storm is also going to skim the entire east coast of the states, so any Georgians/Carolina people: have you looked into the storm yet? Are you preparing for it also?

I'd also like to hear any Tropical/Hurricane storm stories that anybody would like to share.

EDIT 1: Outer bands of Matthew are affecting the entire state. Recent wind and rain in Tampa but it has calmed for now. Meteorologists are saying the western wall of the eye could reach as far as Orlando. Matthew is currently a category 4, south east of the southern tip of Florida. No landfall yet.

EDIT 2: Eye of Matthew is now visible on the weather radar, just south east of Florida. No landfall yet. Tropical storm conditions have reached the east coast.

I hope you remain safe! :3

I'm not in Florida, buuuuut I did live there, and the saddest thing I saw was when people bought out the local Home Depot's supply of plywood and sold it like outdoors to the side for a profit. Fucking disgraceful.

I remember loads of times when hurricanes changed course last minute, so it's really important to consider all the possibilities and be prepared even if the current storm track doesn't show you directly affected. We got the eye of a major hurricane that way, but luckily, we prepared ourselves as it was just a matter of how badly we would get hit.

I remember staying up late, looking at the fast moving clouds after the eye to see if there were any funnel clouds forming. lol fun stuffs

and the eye of the hurricane was simply fascinating; pounding winds and rain just stopped all of a sudden; it was really quiet and beautiful in a way but then it picked up and you know what they say about the tail end of storms :x

Stay safe. Use common sense. Don't go near windows. Have water and non-perishable foods stocked. Have a radio. Flashlights. And above all else, if you think your home can't handle it, evacuate. I know from personal experience how sucky it is to have to up and move, but trust me, evacuating is better than getting hurt. Not trying to be a pedantic know it all here at all. Just concerned. T__T ❤️

Anyway, I hope the storm changes course and just skims the eastern coast instead of turning. Seems like every time I see a track update it wants to curve westward. =___=

- I'm in Orlando and we've got water and food that doesn't need refrigeration. We've also got flashlights and batteries. It looks like we won't get the worst of it, unless it continues to curve more west.

When Charley hit in 2004, there were trees down everywhere and no power at my house for a week. There was also extensive roof damage. I did go outside during the eye of the storm, which was the coolest yet scariest thing ever.

I'm in Michigan, so no...but I have a good friend in Tarpon Springs, Florida, on the west side of the state. She's doing the window-boarding and sandbagging thing with her family right now, just in case. I told her they should just come crash with me after they board up, but they've got jobs and stuff they can't get out of. Oh well, I just hope they all stay safe.

Good lord, what a bunch of a-holes. I'd be fuming. Luckily my family's choice over the years not to board up windows didn't become a disaster. But wow, in a time of emergency, I can't believe others would think of profit from people who need supplies over the safety and well-being of those they're cheating.

Ah yeah, I remember there was a hurricane that decided to nope it's entire predicted path and hit Florida straight on. I don't remember which storm it was, but it may have been from the 2004 season (probably Charley, but don't quote me on that). The eye of Charley came directly over us. The funny thing is, the eye is the safest part of the storm. But once the wall of the eye starts closing in, it becomes the worst. I remember we were sheltering a lot of outside family members during the 2004 season because of how big and sturdy our previous home was. The last family members we were trying to get to our house were my aunt and cousins, who we were telling to wait until the eye was over us to drive.

Yep! I used to sit at a back window of our home and try to make out what was going on in the yard through all of the constant rain and debris being pushed on the glass (which probably wasn't a good idea at the time). Our pool at the time was closed in with a screen over the entire thing. During Charley, it was gradually being torn out of the ground and thrown into the yard.

I've only ever seen one eye in my life (surprise, it was Charley), and I have to agree - it was amazing. I was literally playing outside when the eye was over us until the clouds were quickly moving in. Probably almost a once-in-a-lifetime experience, but maybe not.

Thank you very much. <3 We're doing what little we can to prepare, just in case the storm decides to meander towards the west coast. As a last resort for anyone in a house, go to the middle of your home or in a bathroom closest to the center that has no windows.

I'm over in Tampa, and quite a few locals don't seem too concerned about it so far. Even if we're just outside of the storm, definitely doesn't mean we're in the clear. But I'm hoping they'll be safe no matter what turn Matthew takes.

I'll have to admit, Charley was definitely the most memorable storm for me. In the short time between Charley and the next, my father went driving around town to take pictures of the damage. Uprooted trees, a couple of nearly-demolished homes. Thank goodness my grandparents stayed with us - they lived back on a large land that had some huge trees out front. One tree completely fell over and with such luck, it didn't hit the house. And I agree 100%, the eye of Charley was spooky but beyond amazing.

Oh gosh, I hope they'll be okay. Boarding and sandbagging does make a big difference, and I'm glad they're taking that precaution.

- I'm hoping every stays safe too. And yeah, Charley is definitely memorable.

I wonder what is going to happen for my uncle. He recently retired and move to Palm Bay. Got a house, fixed it up and build a pool in a lanai just this year. I'm thinking everything has to follow some hurricane codes. He wasn't going to leave unless they ordered it. If there was an evacuation declared he was going to drag his trailer to Mississippi. That was his plan.

Hurricane Irene in 2011 was so far the most memorable for me. Lots of tree damage (5 years later things are finally filling in) and it was only a tropical storm by the time it reached RI. The map there for a while yesterday looked like that was going to happen again. IDK what Matthew is doing now getting all wonky, I hope it doesn't loop around.

Oh goodness... Palm Bay is right there on the coast. Far enough south straight into the path. Living so close to the beach during a hurricane can potentially be deadly; lots of flooding coming inland from the ocean, much worse than even severe thunderstorms. There may not be an evacuation ordered right now, but in my best opinion I would definitely contact him and plead to get out of there. I'm sincerely worried. There's enough time in the day tomorrow to definitely evacuate safely, but after the evening it may be hard to get out, and also when the first effects of Matthew are to hit.

Yeah I was just checking the map now, the path with that strong turn around looks worrisome. I believe the storm is supposed to weaken significantly once it reaches past the Georgia/Florida border, but strengthening again isn't out of the question.

Yeah, it was appalling. It was one of the only times we were considering boarding up our windows, because it was a major hurricane, buuuut nope. We managed to get some plywood from elsewhere but it was a chore. :x

2004 was a season to remember. It seemed like a good number of storms had it out for Florida that year. I loved it in a way because there was so much time off from school lol. xD

There was also another storm later after 2004 which wasn't even a hurricane (or maybe category 1) and it seemed to become stationary over Florida. It was the one that made a loop around Florida! So that totally showed strength doesn't necessarily equate to damage. =___=

Hopefully because you're on the west coast of Florida you won't really feel it as much. ;O;

All the best to you! n___n

oh fffs what tf is that latest track doing??? is it going to loop around like that storm I mentioned? hope it doesn't slow down moving speed either because a stationary tropical storm was horrible, a stationary major category hurricane is just.......... D:

also the whole media coverage on it looking like a skull at one point, can we talk sensationalist garbage and a little out of taste much? ew

Ugh. I'm glad you guys were able to get the wood you needed. Some people just have no shame.

Oh yes definitely the year of storms. I have to agree with you on the school part. xD My school was literally across the street from my home, they were using it as a hurricane shelter which was all the more better.

I vaaaagguuuely remember a storm doing that weird stationary loop. Everybody seems to be thinking Matthew might be planning to do the same, so yeah - definitely a wonky storm we've got going on. Some other people have been linking the storm to the Bible; chapters of Matthew. Something about the end and something like a sort of mini-rapture. I'm over at my sister's house at the moment and there's a bible on the nightstand I'm really tempted to read.

Oh GOD. A stationary major. That would go down in history. I'll admit I get really excited about hurricanes and tropical storms, but there is a limit to my excitedness. I hope that doesn't happen.

HAHA. I saw the skull the other day. People were posting it everywhere freaking out and I'm like wtf are they losing their shit over. I hadnt seen the skull shape until I read the description. Really wicked-looking. But it's just like seeing shapes in the clouds. Except this happens to be a really big "cloud" seen from space LOL.

But, the storm is expected to weaken greatly, which means slower movement. There's warm water to the east which is pretty much ammo and food for tropicals, soooo there is a chance. There's also a TS Nicole just to the east of Matthew which I have no freaking clue what it's doing.

Nope. Make a profit off everyyyyythiiiing. :C this is why we can't have nice things

I remember my school got so many off days they were trying to find ways to make up for it later in the year but they still failed lol. Free vacay! (okay not the best time for a vacation but still...)

I can't find the stationary loop thing on wikipedia. D: Did I make it up? oh nos I distinctly remember ittttt. /flails

It'll be memorable either way, won't it? xD lol highly doubt we'd get so much as a warning with the name Matthew for end of times but whatever floats people's boats

Me neither! That loop looks hella awkward on the tracks. From a math perspective, I can't see it NOT looping, but from a meteorological perspective I have no idea lol.

It took me a while to see it as well. Like it's really half a skull and only if you try really hard? ;x tsk tsktsk

omg there's anotheeeeeeeeeeeer storm?? this is so cool (I love hurricanes and storms as well and I get to be excited about them now that I don't live in Florida haha) I mean that is so sad I hope everything isn't too bad D:

EXACTLY.

I can't quite remember what happened when we went back to school but we had so many weeks off that year. I'm also trying to remember if 2004 or 2005 was the year they had to use the Greek alphabet for names because they used up the list.

I could also swear I remember something along the lines of a loop happening, but I can't for the life of me think of what it was.

Right? I'm sure something will be will be made from the storm once it dissipates. I definitely don't feel like its ordinary but nature is weird.

I just looked at the updated map as of 8 AM and holy hell it looks closer to actually looping. Advisories are saying outer rain bands are already affecting Florida. Instead of looping, what if it just go straight back down to the islands? What a huge mess. It's definitely going somewhere.

Nicole's track is just like... Nicole, are you drunk? Like I literally can't tell what direction its going. The track is literally staying in one spot which is spooky. It doesn't look like it's headed to Florida any time soon. The Atlantic seems to be getting storms forming quickly after another this year. The pacific is absolutely crazy. Two major hurricanes basically miles from each other about to hit Hawaii nearly the same time. This was last month or the month before though. I didn't keep up with it so I have no idea what happened to Hawaii.

EDIT: Just looked at the weather radar; I'm about to get hit by a wall of storms probably within the next half hour. It's moving pretty quickly; over Orlando right now.

2004 and 2005 made me think each season was just going to get worse and worse. |D They were something. You know it's bad when they ran out of letters.

Right? I feel like the projectory looks like it will eventually head down to Cuba / Haiti. t___t Unless it makes a sharper turn toward Florida. D:

She'll be close to Matthew when he loops back into the Atlantic. D:

Wow, that sucks. Considering I haven't heard about it internationally, it must have not been that bad hit or else the media would have been all over it.

And so it begins... ;O; Stay safe!! All the best to you!

The updated track is looking even crazier, wow. I think it might actually loop.

I hope it wasn't bad. I'd be horrified if I were in Hawaii during all of that.

Yep, wind is picking up a lot, on and off windy rain. It's starting to look dark outside but nothing is extreme yet. And this is all from the complete opposite side of the state. I can't see the eye on the radar yet which means it'll probably be a couple of hours before it's right up on the coast. Matthew is a category 4 once again. :O 140 mph winds coming from the center. The rain just picked up big time.

Latest one at 5pm definitely looks like a loop is involved. Aw and Nicole is now a hurricane as well. How cute. /not If you were any closer you might see some lightning sprites like they did in Cuba. I think that's the only way you'd make me go back to living in a place that gets hit by storms -- for the weather phenomena. xD Hope all is well!

also this looks so terrifying

at first I'm like wtf kind of hurricane is that OH IT'S TWO AWW CUTEEE EXCEPT NOT

Holy shit I've never seen lightning sprites. I DIDNT KNOW THEY WERE A THING. This storm is whack. There's something fishy going on. Nicole isn't any less strange.

Right now we're getting play-slapped by more outer bands. Lots of wind but not too bad; the nonstop raining has begun. I just arrived home because I thought it'd be safer to be with my parents for now. On my way over, the clouds were really wicked. Slanted-horizontal storm clouds making their way somewhere. Oh did I mention the sky is a dark yellow right now? Starting to turn into an orange-ish color.

- I came home a few hours ago and begged my mom to call her brother. So my uncle is staying put. He says he is about 30 miles from the ocean, there was no mandatory evacuation for him. From the sound of it, it sounded like he was getting his trailer ready with supplies and water, but decided to stay (or actually couldn't really leave easily). When he got the house fixed up he got hurricane shutters installed and he has 2 generators, gas (and beer!) and everything. So he's prepared. He's going to call us in the morning.

Did Matthew get a girlfriend named Nicole? What is going on down there? geez!

I'm not in Florida. I live in Ontario, but we'll end up getting the edge of this hurricane in a few days. If we don't get rain, we'll get high winds.

Hope you're safe!

I hope he stays safe. Matthew should be closing in on the coast by midnight (just made landfall on the Bahamas not long ago, and the videos going up are intense). We joke about things called Hurricane Parties and usually the "supplies list" consists of beer, beer, and more beer! So he's definitely got the right idea. 😉 I'll be keeping him and your family in my thoughts.

To be honest I have no idea what is going on out there. Nicole has pretty much stayed put in the same spot for almost the entirety of her formation. Things are getting really weird down here. Not to mention Matthew's predicted path has him now going in a complete circle.

The path for now seems it'll be taking a sharp turn to the east after it reaches South Carolina, and then begin circling it's way back down to Florida and the islands again. For now, it's a steady west-movement with a slight north direction in there as well, just leaving the Bahamas. I'm all the way on the other side of the state and we've got so much wind and rain already. I hope you and others up there don't have to get any of this weird stuff going on down here. Story time, I just took my dogs outside to potty about 10-20 minutes ago; air was calm but it was drizzling... mofo decides to start with all the heavy wind and long story short I was drenched from standing under the porch with a door slammed in my face twice.

But I am for sure safe at the moment, thank you! For some reason, I have a feeling the storm will curve more west towards us than it's supposed to, looking at how it's moving on the radar. Oh the joys of hurricane season.

i hope everyone stays safe <3 weirdly enough we're not even getting rain in atlanta.