Governor Rick Scott has already declared a state of emergency for all 67 counties in the state of Florida as Hurricane Matthew barrels towards the Sunshine State.
On Tuesday administrators from LSU and Florida discussed how to handle the oncoming storm and how it could impede the game and travel plans before the Florida Gators and LSU Tigers meet this Saturday at noon.
Florida Executive Associate Athletic Director of Internal Affairs Chip Howard released this statement Tuesday afternoon.
There has been no change as it relates to the status of #LSUvsUF. pic.twitter.com/RmTjTXZEVC
— Florida Gators (@FloridaGators) October 4, 2016
Current projections show Hurricane Matthew affecting the greater Gainesville area early Friday morning and moving up the coast quickly. If the storm follows this projected path the noon kickoff game should be fine, but the storm could make traveling to the game difficult. LSU had plans to fly into Ocala, where all visiting teams stay before they play Florida, on Friday afternoon.
Remember effects (wind, rainfall, high surf etc) will extend well outside of the forecast cone (which is only for the center of #Matthew) pic.twitter.com/fxsNljiTGb
— NHC Atlantic Ops (@NHC_Atlantic) October 4, 2016
Matthew is wreaking havoc over Haiti Tuesday with sustained winds of 145 miles an hour, a Category Four Hurricane. Matthew is suspected to weaken some, probably making landfall with Florida at a Category Three Hurricane, sustained winds between 111-130 miles an hour.