Hurricane watch issued for St. Johns, Duval, Nassau, Putnam and Clay

A hurricane watch was issued Wednesday morning for St. Johns, Duval, Nassau, Clay and Putnam counties. Baker, Union and Bradford counties are under a tropical storm watch.

Hurricane Matthew is moving away from eastern Cuba and toward the southern Bahamas.

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The hurricane will move over the Bahamas Wednesday and it will make its nearest approach to our coast Friday. Local impacts will include:

• Tropical storm force winds along the coast with gusts possible up to hurricane force (74 mph+)
• Extremely rough seas and surf
• Life-threatening  rip currents
• Beach erosion

Florida Governor Rick Scott said at a news conference in Nassau County on Tuesday that he is not ruling out a direct hit by Matthew. He is urging people to prepare for possible evacuations and catastrophic damage.

The Main Street Bridge in Jacksonville closed beginning Wednesday morning at 9 a.m. so crews could remove a temporary platform as a precaution. The bridge reopened Wednesday afternoon.

Northeast Florida counties are already offering sandbags in preparation for heavy rain, wind and beach erosion.

The First Alert Weather Team is monitoring Hurricane Matthew. Stay updated with the First Alert Hurricane Center, Talking the Tropics with Mike and watch FOX30 Action News Jax This Morning.

Evacuation zones, routes and other emergency information

Cox Media Group