Hurricane Michael Could Become Category 4 Storm, Florida Orders Mandatory Evacuations

UPDATE: 6.50 a.m. EDT — According to reports, over 3,000 were without power in Florida Gulf Coast. The hurricane was currently centered about 120 miles south-southwest of Panama City, Florida, and was moving northward.

Okaloosa County officials said more people are coming into the shelter. They requested people to bring air mattresses as all cots are utilized. They requested people to bring air mattresses as all cots were utilized. The National Hurricane Center in Tallahassee warned the hurricane has continued to intensify over the Gulf of Mexico and wanted people to know it was extremely dangerous. It also warned the time for preparation was ending.

UPDATE: 6.00 a.m. EDT — According to National Hurricane Center's latest advisory, the category 4 hurricane has strengthened and a “life-threatening” surge is expected along Florida’s Panhandle, Big Bend area and Nature coast where a storm-surge warning is under effect. Heavy rains can also produce flash-flooding in the areas. The worst storm surge is expected between Tyndall air base and Keaton beach.

UPDATE: 3.00 a.m. EDT — According to the National Hurricane Center, Hurricane Michael has become an extremely dangerous Category 4 hurricane packing 130-mph winds. It is expected to make landfall Wednesday afternoon with the same intensity. Florida’s Panhandle, from Pensacola to Apalachicola, and its Big Bend area were expected to be hit the hardest with destructive winds and flooding rain throughout Wednesday. Michael was also predicted to push ashore a “life-threatening” surge of ocean water that could inundate more than 325 miles of coastline.

Original story

Hurricane Michael has intensified into a Category 3 storm with maximum sustained winds of 120 mph and was expected to bring with it a storm surge of 13 feet, the National Hurricane Center said in its latest advisory Tuesday.

The storm was centered roughly 270 miles south of Apalachicola, Florida, and was expected to make a landfall near Panama City, Florida on Wednesday afternoon as a Category 4 storm.

Florida Gov. Rick Scott has ordered mandatory evacuation along most of Florida’s northern Gulf Coast. The State Emergency Operations Center in Tallahassee were asked to activate in order to enhance coordination between federal, state and local agencies.

President Donald Trump retweeted Scott’s message about evacuation late Tuesday.

“The one thing I want to make sure folks understand is that the facilities that are being opened are evacuation centers so they don't have cots, food and water; they are meant to safely house people for 72 hours until the storm passes," Vice President of Operations and Logistics for the American Red Cross, Brad Kieserman said, Accu Weather reported.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency also asked people to check with state and local authorities for the latest on road closures before heading out.

The hurricane was expected to bring sustained winds of 80-100 mph with gusts of 120-130 mph to parts of the Florida Panhandle, which could lead to widespread tree and structural damage. Prolonged power outages can also be expected for several days.

National Weather Service forecast office serving Tallahassee warned of “widespread power outages, downed trees blocking access to roads and endangering individuals, structural damage to homes and businesses, isolated flash flooding and the potential for a few tornadoes.”

Small storm surges have already been reported in areas along the Florida Gulf coast.

Rick Knabb, the Weather Channel’s hurricane expert said, “This will not be just a coastal event, with dangerous winds and flooding rains spreading far inland over the southeastern U.S. Shelter from hurricane-force winds like you would for a tornado, and don’t stay in mobile homes, even for a tropical storm.”

Scott took to Twitter on Tuesday to ask the residents to listen to all warnings from local and state officials as the storm approached.

“Hurricane Michael will be here TONIGHT. This is your LAST CHANCE to get prepared for this monstrous and deadly storm. The state is not taking this storm lightly and neither should any family,” he said.

Brian McNoldy, a storm researcher at University of Miami's Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science said, "Hurricane Michael is primed for additional strengthening prior to landfall because the key players in the atmosphere and ocean are all conducive for it,” Mashable reported.

Several schools and universities across the southeastern United States including Florida State University, Troy University and Wallace Community College in Alabama have canceled classes in advance due to the hurricane.