UPDATE: Why Hurricane Matthew's path changed so dramatically

The Hurricane Matthew outlook for New Jersey changed considerably overnight as the storm is now projected to take a sharp turn out to sea on Saturday as it moves up the East Coast.

Hurricane Matthew is no longer expected to approach New Jersey this weekend, according to the National Hurricane Center.

The storm, which is currently a category 3 hurricane, remains a threat for Florida, Georgia and the Carolinas, according to the National Hurricane Center's 5 a.m. Wednesday update.

Instead of possibly being somewhere off the coast of New Jersey by Sunday morning, the storm is now expected to be headed east and out to sea, hundreds of miles from the Carolinas at that time.

The National Weather Service cautions that while New Jersey is not likely to be affected by Matthew, the tracks of hurricanes are volatile and subject to change.

Hurricane Matthew weakened slightly overnight but still poses a major threat to Cuba, the Bahamas and Florida. As of 5 a.m. Matthew had maximum winds of 125 mph, dropping it from a category 4 to a category 3 hurricane. It was 65 miles north-northeast of the eastern tip of Cuba and headed north at 10 mph.

Forecasters say Matthew is likely pounding Cuba Wednesday morning before it turns north-northwest later in the day and then northwest by the evening. The Bahamas will be lashed with heavy rain, wind and storm surge.

Florida could begin feeling the effects of Matthew by Thursday night.

As for the Garden State, three dry, pleasant days are expected before a threat of rain, not related to Matthew, emerges on Saturday. Daytime highs on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday are expected to be around 70 before the mercury dips into the upper 40s and low 50s at night.

Jeff Goldman may be reached at jeff_goldman@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JeffSGoldman. Find NJ.com on Facebook.