Hurricane Matthew's impact on Atlantic provinces 'significantly reduced'

Hurricane Matthew remains a major threat to the Bahamas and the risk of a more direct impact on Florida has increased but the impact the storm will have on the Atlantic provinces has been significantly reduced, says CBC meteorologist Kalin Mitchell.

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The latest extended forecast by the National Hurricane Center, released at noon Wednesday, favours Matthew meandering around the southern Atlantic basin through the Thanksgiving weekend.

With a storm like this, further changes to that extended forecast are certainly still possible. Kalin Mitchell

"What that means is that after it nears the coastline of South Carolina Saturday morning, it's northward movement significantly slows or stops and the storm shifts almost directly east and potentially even back towards the south," Mitchell said.

"This significantly reduces the chances of an impact to weather over Atlantic Canada Thanksgiving weekend."

Mitchell said it's too early, however, to say there will be no impact on the region.

"With a storm like this, further changes to that extended forecast are certainly still possible. It will still need to be watched as we head towards the end of the week and into the weekend."

Hurricane Matthew leaves death and destruction in its wake

8 years ago

Duration 1:00

Storm headed for U.S. southern coast

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