Tropical Storm Matthew, formerly Invest 95L, has made landfall along the Nicaraguan coastline, and is now headed inland through northern Honduras. Data from the Hurricane Hunters showed that Matthew was beginning to intensify as it made landfall, but no further intensification is likely as long as Matthew's center remains over land. TS Matthew is currently located on the border of Nicaragua and Honduras and is moving W at 14mph. Winds are at 45mph, with gusts to 55mph. If TS Matthew follows the official NHC forecast and remains inland, the storm will gradually weaken and dissipate 2 to 3 days from now. There are other forecasts that suggest the storm wil emerge over water and make a 2nd landfall tomorrow night in Belize. The main danger for Honduras, Belize, Mexico, and northern Guatemala will be from heavy rains, not wind. The forecast rain amounts of 6 - 10 inches, with isolated amounts of 15 inches, will cause severe flooding and dangerous mudslides. Belize, northern Guatemala, northwestern Honduras, and bordering regions of Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula are most at risk from Matthew's rains, since the storm is likely to slow down and linger in these regions this weekend and early next week. Most forecasts suggest that in the long term, TS Matthew will ultimately dissipate over land. There is a slight chance that the remnants could move into the Western Caribbean and reintensify. If that happens, the storm could pose a threat to the US. Elsewhere, Tropical Storm Lisa remains in the same general area she has been in all week, several hundred miles to the W of the Cape Verde Islands. Increasing wind shear should dissipate the storm in the coming days and Lisa poses no threat to land.
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