Hurricane watch from Volusia/Brevard line south to Deerfield Beach; Governor to visit Daytona Beach emergency management

NEW DEVELOPMENTS LOCALLY:

There's a 60 percent to 80 percent chance of tropical storm-force winds for Volusia and Flagler Counties. Winds will start blowing hard on Thursday afternoon. A Hurricane Watch could be issued for Volusia County at 5 p.m. Tuesday. Hurricane Matthew has sustained winds of 145 mph near the storm's center. Large, breaking waves up to 10 feet are possible on local beaches. Hurricane Matthew made landfall near Les Anglais in Haiti at 7 a.m. Tuesday, and continued its deadly march toward Cuba.

At 11 a.m. the National Hurricane Center issued a hurricane watch for Florida's east coast from Deerfield Beach to the Volusia/Brevard county line. Millions of Florida’s coastal residents keep hoping — in vain, so far — to see the storm track move back eastward in the Atlantic.

Matthew — a deadly storm with sustained winds of 145 mph and higher gusts — was 770 miles south-southeast of Cape Canaveral or about 710 miles southeast of Fort Pierce. The storm is moving north at 10 mph, with a minimum central pressure of 950 millibars.

Officials in Volusia and Flagler counties are preparing for whatever Matthew may bring this way starting Thursday evening, with high winds, heavy rain, high seas and possibly a storm surge. Tropical storm force winds are expected to hit the area Thursday. All of Florida is in a state of emergency.

The hurricane, which has claimed four lives, is forecast to move near eastern Cuba on Tuesday and into the Bahamas on Wednesday, then power north perilously close to the Florida coast.

WATCH A BRIEFING WITH NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER DIRECTOR RICK KNABB

Chances for tropical storm force winds are 50 to 80 percent across Volusia and Flagler counties. The forecast calls for the center of Matthew to pass northward about 60 to 70 miles east of Daytona Beach on Friday afternoon.

“Now is the time for people to start thinking what would happen if the storm moved closer,” said Will Ulrich, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Melbourne. “The possibility of hurricane force winds is starting to inch closer and people need to start paying attention a lot more.”

The Hurricane Center expects to issue tropical storm and/or hurricane watches for parts of Florida at 11 a.m.

“Any further shifts to the west will dramatically impact our local effects,” said Ulrich. “As the system gets closer, we have to be concerned with the core of Matthew passing very close to our coast.

“Hurricanes can have far-reaching impacts far from the center,” he said. “We want people not to focus on the points on a line in the cone. People will be affected well outside of that cone.”

Any further shift west in Matthew's track would “shift the paradigm of forecasting and response,” said Steve Garten, public safety emergency manager for Flagler County. Tropical storm force winds can range anywhere from 39 to 73 miles per hour. The intensity of the storm’s impacts would increase exponentially, Garten said, if the area were to receive winds on the higher end of that scale.

“Start putting your plans together now,” said Garten. “Start getting your necessities together.”

(READ: 5 ways to prepare your property for a storm)

At the beach, large breaking waves of 6 to 10 feet are possible, Ulrich said. Well offshore, seas could approach 30 to 40 feet on Friday, with nearshore waves of 15 to 20 feet. And, rough surf and life-threatening rip currents are expected to begin arriving well before any other impacts from the storm. A buoy south of Jamaica reported 27- to 30- foot seas overnight Sunday.

One big potential concern is the storm surge forecast and the timing with high tides, which should come into sharper focus on Tuesday and Wednesday. Garten said that forecast could determine whether evacuations take place in low-lying areas. Ultimately, he said, it’s likely Flagler County will open at least one shelter for comfort and safety.

In declaring a statewide emergency in Florida on Monday, Gov. Rick Scott stated that direct impacts from Matthew could present the kind of "massive destruction" not seen since Hurricane Andrew in 1992. His emergency declaration, a technical action, allows planning to go forward for any potential evacuations, sheltering or other logistical needs.

“The best way to prevent further loss is to get prepared now and take this storm seriously,” Scott stated. “Having a plan in place could mean the difference between life and death during severe weather, especially a major category four hurricane."

Similar advice was dispensed by Volusia County's Emergency Management director Jim Judge, who encouraged residents to review their personal and business preparedness plans, and make sure they have emergency supplies, including extra medication on hand.

"We want people to prepare now," Judge said. "The track could continue to shift further west. Don't get caught off-guard." He advised residents to stock at least a two-week supply of food, water and other necessities.

Judge said he's hoping the forecast "comes into better alignment on Tuesday."

Gov. Scott will make several stops at emergency management offices in the Florida Keys, Daytona Beach and north Florida Tuesday to give updates on Hurricane Matthew and the storm's potential impact on the state.

The worst of Matthew’s impacts pushed into the impoverished country of Haiti on Monday and was expected to bring life-threatening rains, winds and storm surge overnight. Moving at the slow pace of only 6 to 7 mph, it was expected to drop 15 to 25 inches of rain, with up to 40 inches in some isolated locations. In eastern Cuba and northwestern Haiti, the Hurricane Center warned up to 20 inches of rain was possible. Hurricane-force winds extend outward about 35 miles from the center of the storm, while tropical storm-force winds extend up to 185 miles from the center, primarily to the east.

(READ: Hurricane Matthew makes landfall in vulnerable Haiti)

The center's forecasters warned of the potential for a 7- to 11-foot storm surge along the southern coasts of the islands, while a surge of up to 15 feet was forecast for the central and southeastern Bahamas.

Meanwhile Tropical Storm Nicole has formed out in the Atlantic Ocean and is headed northward toward Bermuda.

For information on preparing for a hurricane, visit ready.gov.