Hurricane Matthew Approaches Florida; Governor Urges 1.5 Million to Flee

Hurricane Matthew intensified Thursday morning into a Category 4 storm with winds of at least 140 miles per hour and strengthening. The storm was blamed for the deaths of 100 people in Haiti. “Extremely dangerous, life-threatening weather conditions are forecast in the next 24 hours,” the National Weather Service warned early Thursday afternoon. “Airborne debris lofted by extreme winds will be capable of breaching structures, unprotected windows and vehicles.” The center of the hurricane was about 150 miles southeast of West Palm Beach, Fla. as of 1 p.m. Thursday, moving northwest at 14 m.p.h. over the Bahamas. The eye of the storm was projected to hit Cape Canaveral at about 8 a.m. Friday, and pass near Jacksonville at about 8 p.m.