Powerful Hurricane Matthew has weakened slightly from a category five storm back to a category four on its route over the Atlantic.  The storm is expected to dump considerable rain and create chaos on parts of the Caribbean during the next few days.

U.S. weather forecasters say Matthew is the strongest hurricane over the Atlantic Ocean since Felix in 2007.  With  maximum sustained winds of 250 kilometers per hour and higher gusts, Matthew is expected to remain a powerful storm through Sunday.

Matthew will affect much of the Caribbean Sea region in the coming days, including Jamaica, Haiti and Cuba.

Weather forecasters predict rainfall of 25 to 38 centimeters with isolated amounts of more than 63 centimeters across Jamaica and southwestern Haiti.  The U.S. National Hurricane Center says these rains may produce “life-threatening flash flooding and mudslides.”

The storm has already claimed its first victim.  The governor of Colombia’s La Guajira department said a 67-year-old indigenous man was killed by tropical storm winds in the rural part of the country.

Swells generated by Matthew are expected to affect portions of the coasts of Puerto Rico, Hispaniola, Jamaica, Aruba, Bonaire, Curacao, Venezuela and Colombia during the next few days.  These conditions are likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions.

Rainfall totals of five to 10 centimeters with isolated higher amounts are expected over Aruba, Bonaire and Curacao through Saturday. Similar amounts of rain are also expected along the coasts of Colombia from the Venezuelan border to Richacha.

Weather forecasters predict two to five centimeters of rain along the coast of Venezuela from Coro to the Colombian border.

Cuba is bracing for a possible swipe by Matthew in the eastern part of the country. “We have to keep an eye on it,” said a weather presenter.
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