A HURRICANE WATCH is in effect for Jamaica as extremely dangerous Hurricane Matthew gains more strength over the central Caribbean and continues to threaten Jamaica.

This means that the following dangerous effects of a hurricane are expected to affect Jamaica by Monday:
- Dangerously high water or a combination of dangerously high water and exceptionally high waves, even though winds expected may be less than hurricane force;
- Average winds 64 knots (118 km/h) or higher;

At 7:00 p.m. the well-defined eye of Hurricane Matthew was located near Latitude 13.5 degrees North, Longitude 72.0 degrees West. This is about 665 kilometres (415 miles) southeast of Morant Point, Jamaica or 130 kilometres (80 miles) north-northwest of Punta Gallinas, Colombia.

Matthew is moving south of due west near 15 km/h (9 mph) and a westward motion at a slower forward speed is expected tonight and Saturday. A turn toward the west-northwest is forecast by Saturday night, followed by a turn toward the northwest on Sunday.

Data from the Hurricane Hunter aircraft indicate that maximum sustained winds have again increased to near 240 km/h (150 mph), with higher gusts. Matthew is, therefore, a Category 4 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale. Some fluctuations in intensity are possible this weekend but Matthew is expected to remain a powerful hurricane through Sunday.

Hurricane force winds extend outward up to 55 km (35 miles) from the centre and tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 315 km (195 miles) primarily to the north of the centre.