Tropical Storm Matthew stronger in Caribbean as Lisa regains power far out in Atlantic

Tropical Storm Matthew stronger in Caribbean

MIAMI — The National Hurricane Center says Tropical Storm Matthew has strengthened in the southwestern Caribbean.

Forecasters at the Miami center said late Thursday that Matthew has maximum sustained winds of 45 mph (75 kph). It was moving west at 17 mph (28 kph) and was 335 miles (540 kilometers) east of Puerto Cabezas, Nicaragua.

A hurricane watch and a tropical storm warning have been issued for parts of Nicaragua and Honduras.

The center says the governments of Nicaragua and Honduras issued the alerts for the stretch from Puerto Cabezas to Limon, Honduras, including offshore islands.

Separately, Lisa has regained tropical storm strength with maximum sustained winds of 40 mph about 305 miles (495 kilometers) west-northwest of the Cape Verde Islands.