It’s forecast to be near or at major hurricane force when it nears the Gulf Coast.
Hurricane Michael formed Monday morning (Oct. 8) in the northwest Caribbean, and the National Hurricane Center stated it is expected to reach Category 3 before it makes landfall along the Florida Panhandle Wednesday
According to a 10 a.m. National Hurricane Center advisory, Michael is moving with maximum sustained winds of 75 mph. The storm, which is currently about 50 miles south of the western tip of Cuba, is moving north at 7 mph.
Forecasters stated the center of Michael will move northward near the western tip of Cuba Monday afternoon and into the southeastern Gulf of Mexico by Monday night. The storm is forecast to become a major hurricane by Tuesday or Tuesday night. Forecasters stated it is expected to move across the eastern Gulf of Mexico Tuesday or Tuesday night as well.
Forecasters expect Michael’s path to move east of Louisiana before it makes landfall over the Florida Panhandle or Florida Big Bend area on Wednesday. Michael is expected to move northeastward across the southeastern United States Wednesday night and Thursday.
Michael is expected to bring heavy rainfall and strong winds across western Cuba. Heavy rainfall is also expected for the northeastern Gulf Coast.
Florida Gov. Rick Scott issued a state of emergency Sunday, warning those living in counties in his state’s Panhandle and Big Bend area to brace for what he said could become a Category 2 storm by the time it makes landfall.
Forecasters stated a Hurricane Warning is in effect for the Cuban province of Pinar del Rio. A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for the Cuban province of the Isle of Youth and the coast of Mexico from Tulum to Cabo Catoche, including Cozumel. A Hurricane Watch is in effect for the Alabama-Florida border to Suwannee River Florida.
A Storm Surge Watch is in effect for Navarre Florida to Anna Maria Island Florida, including Tampa Bay. A Tropical Storm Watch is in effect for Suwannee River to Anna Maria Island Florida, including Tampa Bay, and the Alabama-Florida border to the Mississippi-Alabama border.
