As of Wednesday evening, nearly eight million Floridians sit in Matthew's potential path under a hurricane or tropical storm warning.
The 11p.m. advisory of the National Hurricane Center (NHC) maintained the hurricane watch in effect for Palm Beach and Broward Counties, which means that hurricane conditions are expected by Thursday in the area that spans from the north of Golden Beach to the Flager/Volusia County line.
Miami-Dade and Monroe Counties are still under tropical storm warning. Also, Florida Bay and the area from Chokoloskee to Ocean Reef are now under this warning.
Hurricane Watches has now been extended as far north as Jacksonville.
Palm Beach County started a voluntary evacuation of residents in zones A and B on Wednesday, according to county spokesperson Lisa DeLaRionda. A mandatory evacuation order was issued at 4 p.m. for the town of Palm Beach.
DeLaRionda also confirmed that two shelters opened early on Wednesday, one for special needs and a second one pet friendly. General population shelters opened at 4 pm.
Emergency shelters will also open in Broward County at 9 p.m. this evening, including two special needs and a pet friendly shelter.
Miami-Dade County started voluntary evacuations for mobile homes.
Key West and Marathon airports will be open but the Fort Lauderdale Airport will be closed starting 10:30 a.m. Thursday. Miami-Dade County authorities were consulting with federal aviation authorities about the need of closing the airport, but many flights have already been cancelled. Passengers are advised to check with their airlines.
Greyhound has advised airport officials that after the 5:45 p.m. bus on Wednesday leaves Key West International Airport there will be no further bus service out of the airport on Wednesday, and there will be no bus service on Thursday.
All Broward County bridges willl locked down as of 8 PM Wednesday evening: they remain open to car traffic, but boats will no longer be able to go underneath.
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