hurricane matthew

Towns along the southeastern North Carolina coast urged visitors to leave, and the governor warned of significant rains and flooding Friday as Hurricane Matthew churned along the Southeastern U.S.

The National Hurricane Center says Matthew is a Category 3 storm with maximum sustained winds of 120 mph. The strongest winds are so far staying offshore, but forecasters warn that could change.

The conservative media figure posted several tweets implying that the National Hurricane Center and other officials are lying about the severity of the storm.

Hurricane Matthew drowned and battered the island nation on Tuesday. At least 283 people died and, more than 48 hours after the storm made landfall, many of the worst hit areas are still inaccessible.

More than a hundred people died as Hurricane Matthew struck Haiti, Cuba and the Bahamas. The National Hurricane Center says the Category 4 storm will near the U.S. coast late Thursday or early Friday.

Hurricane Matthew killed at least 11 people in Haiti before it barreled north toward the Bahamas. Florida, Georgia and the Carolinas all declared states of emergency as they prepared for the storm.

Haiti's presidential election has been delayed multiple times in the past year. The country is being run by an interim president, whose constitutional mandate has already expired.

The Category 4 storm dumped rain on southwestern Haiti on Tuesday morning and lashed the island with maximum sustained winds of up to 145 mph. The hurricane is continuing north toward Cuba.

Authorities warn of "life threatening" wind and flooding in Haiti and have issued warnings for parts of Cuba, Haiti and Jamaica. The U.S. Navy evacuated families from its base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.