MICHAEL BECOMES AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS CATEGORY 4 HURRICANE... ...LIFE-THREATENING STORM SURGE...HURRICANE FORCE WINDS...AND HEAVY RAINFALL EXPECTED ALONG THE NORTHEASTERN GULF COAST...



On the heels of Hurricane Florence in September, another dangerous hurricane is
taking aim at the United States.

Hurricane Michael, currently a Category 2 storm, is expected to strengthen to a colossal Category 3 hurricane and make landfall in Florida in the coming days,

bringing catastrophic winds, torrential rain and devastating storm surge to the state and across the northeastern Gulf Coast.

Here’s a look at how to track the hurricane, its projected path and impact, current evacuation zones and where it could make landfall.






Hurricane Michael is strengthening rapidly and currently taking aim at the Florida Gulf Coast


What category is Hurricane Michael?

Hurricane Michael is currently a Category 2 hurricane, having strengthened throughout the night from a Category 1. but forecasters warned it could turn into a Category 3 by Wednesday.


Where is Hurricane Michael going to hit?

As of October 9, the hurricane is currently making its way into the Gulf of Mexico and is projected to make a turn to the northeast and make landfall somewhere roughly between the Florida Panhandle and the Big Bend region of Florida around midday on Wednesday, October 10.

Even before its projected landfall on the Florida coastline, conditions are projected to deteriorate on the evening of Tuesday, October 9 in the northeastern Gulf Coast region, including the shorelines of Florida from the Florida Panhandle down to the Tampa Bay Area and the coastlines of Alabama, Mississippi and southeastern Louisiana.

Upon making landfall, the massive storm is projected to accelerate inland, cutting a swath of destruction across the southeastern U.S. from the evening of Wednesday, October 10 until the night of Thursday, October 11, soaking communities with drenching rains and posing life-threatening risks with strong winds.

The hurricane could also enhance other projected rainfall in the Mid-Atlantic and New England regions from the night of Thursday, October 11 and throughout Friday, October 12.

Hurricane Michael is forecast to be a major Category 3 hurricane as its bears down on the Florida coastline, though some uncertainty remains in its projected strength when it inevitably makes landfall. Regardless, the storm is expected to deal serious damage to both coastal and inland communities thanks to its strong winds and heavy rains.

Even if it doesn’t intensify as much as forecast, the storm is still expected to be very dangerous, bringing hurricane-force winds greater than 74 miles per hour to the northeastern Gulf Coast by Wednesday, October 10 in the area currently under a hurricane warning. This area currently spans from just north of Tampa Bay Area to the Alabama coastline, though tropical storm-force winds above 39 miles per hour are also expected to be felt in this area from the night of Tuesday, October 9 until the morning of Wednesday, October 10.

Areas just outside the hurricane warning region currently under a tropical storm warning will likely see tropical storm-force winds on the night of Tuesday, October 9 and morning of Wednesday, October 10.





The powerful hurricane will bring torrential rains, strong winds and catastrophic storm surge


The hurricane’s path is projected to bring widespread power outages to the Florida Panhandle region and even to southeastern Alabama and southwestern Georgia, potentially leaving up to two million people without power from Florida to southeastern Virginia.

In addition, life-threatening storm surges as high as eight to 12 feet are possible from the western end of the Florida Panhandle all the way to the Tampa Bay Area.
For rainfall, the storm is expected to dump four to eight inches in the Florida Panhandle and Big Bend region of Florida into southern Georgia and southeastern Alabama. Local rainfall of up to a foot is possible while life-threatening flash flooding cannot be ruled out either.

Eastern Georgia, the Carolinas and southern Virginia could potentially see three to six inches of rain while parts of the Florida Peninsula, Mid-Atlantic and New England regions could possibly see one to three inches of rain.

The storm could also bring some isolated tornadoes to the Florida Panhandle and southern Georgia.


How wide is Hurricane Michael?

The storm is threatening more than 300 miles of the Golf Coast and is expected to make landfall along a 150-mile stretch of the Florida coast.


Hurricane Michael evacuation zones

As the dangerous storm bears down on the Florida Panhandle and broader northeastern Gulf Coast region, mandatory evacuationshave already been issued.
Three Florida counties have ordered mandatory evacuations, including Gulf County, where the storm could potentially make a direct landfall hit.


Wakulla County has ordered a mandatory evacuation for all residents in its Zone A evacuation zone as well as for residents living in weak structures and mobile homes. Bay County has also issued a mandatory evacuation for Zones A, B and C.


When will Hurricane Michael make landfall?

Though the exact landfall area of the monstrous storm isn’t yet known, officials have expressed increased confidence that it will ultimately be in the Florida Panhandle.
Florida Governor Rick Scott didn’t mince words when warning residents about the storm, saying: ‘Hurricane Michael is forecast to be the most destructive storm to hit the Florida Panhandle in decades.’





The Florida Panhandle is in the crosshairs of Hurricane Michael as it barrels towards the coast



According to FEMA official Jeff Byard, hurricane-force winds are expected to extend ‘well inland’ from where the storm makes landfall, noting that Florida’s power infrastructure could be hit even worse than North and South Carolina’s during Hurricane Florence.

In preparation for the storm,Donald Trump declared a state of emergency in 35 Florida counties and said that 2,000 National Guard members were mobilized to assist with the preparation and recovery efforts.

Scott again issued a dire warning to his state’s residents as the hurricane took aim at the Florida Panhandle, saying: ‘Water will come miles inshore and could easily be over the roofs of houses.

‘You cannot hide from storm surge so get prepared and get out if an evacuation is ordered.

‘Remember, we can rebuild your house, but we cannot rebuild your life.’



Hurricane Michael Barrels Toward the Gulf Coast of the USA



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