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Hurricane Matthew changes course, likely to miss Maritimes

Click to play video: 'Thousands flee as powerful Hurricane Matthew impacts US east coast'
Thousands flee as powerful Hurricane Matthew impacts US east coast
WATCH ABOVE: Hurricane Matthew, the strongest Atlantic hurricane in nearly a decade, is inching closer toward the US after delivering a devastating blow to Haiti. The storm is already being blamed for eleven deaths in the Caribbean, while thousands of people along the US coastline are fleeing inland. Sarah Rosario reports – Oct 5, 2016

It looks like Canada is going to be spared a visit from Hurricane Matthew.

The powerful hurricane, which pummelled Haiti on Tuesday and was heading towards the Bahamas on Wednesday, was originally forecast to travel up the east coast of the United States, towards Canada.

However, the National Hurricane Center out of Miami, Florida, updated its forecast on Wednesday morning: Matthew now looks to turn northeast before starting to head southeast on Sunday.

Hurricane Matthew forecast tracks: Oct. 4 and Oct. 5
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On Tuesday, the Canadian Hurricane Centre issued a weather statement warning that Matthew could impact the Maritimes.

Breaking news from Canada and around the world sent to your email, as it happens.

However, on Wednesday, the centre’s meteorologist Bob Robichaud said the powerful, slow-moving storm is now expected to veer off into the Atlantic Ocean after scraping along the coast of Florida and may double back for another run at the state.

Robichaud also said that Matthew’s slow pace has prevented it from hitching a ride with steering currents in the upper atmosphere.

VIDEO GALLERY: Hurricane Matthew

Hurricanes are difficult to forecast any more than one day out. That’s because it is highly influenced by other weather systems around them such as high or low pressure systems.

In the images above, the cone means that the centre of the hurricane may occur anywhere within it. So you can see that the further out the forecast, the wider the cone.

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Though Canada looks to be spared, Robichaud warned that Matthew could once again change course.

In Florida and the Carolinas, up to one million people are being evacuated.

As of Wednesday, the Canadian Hurricane Centre had no other statements.

 

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