Hurricane Michael Update: NOAA Says It’s Category 3 With 120 Mph Winds, Storm Surge

Top video: Hurricane Michael felt on Royal Caribbean cruise ship

Hurricane Michael became a Category 3 storm with 120 mph maximum sustained winds on Oct. 9—ahead of making landfall along the Florida Panhandle, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

In a 5 p.m. update on Oct. 9, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) said Michael has strengthened to a “major hurricane” and has life-threatening storm surge, hurricane-force winds, and heavy rainfall.

Currently, Michael is located 295 miles south of Panama City, Florida, and 270 miles south-southwest of Apalachicola, Florida.

Hurricane Michael became a Category 3 storm with 120 mph maximum sustained winds on Oct. 9. (NHC)

“A northward motion is expected through tonight, followed by a northeastward motion on Wednesday and Thursday. On the forecast track, the center of Michael will move across the eastern Gulf of Mexico through tonight,” the agency said.

The storm’s exact location by that time isn’t yet known. The NHC said that it could hit anywhere along the Florida Panhandle or Florida Big Bend area.

Then, it will “move northeastward across the southeastern United States Wednesday night and Thursday, and move off the Mid-Atlantic coast away from the United States on Friday,” the NHC said.

“We expect Hurricane Michael to make landfall near Panama City, Florida, Wednesday midday or early afternoon,” according to AccuWeather forecaster Dan Kottlowski. “Historically, hurricanes that approach the Florida coast in this area tend to weaken slightly prior to landfall, but little difference in impact related to wind and storm surge is likely regardless,” Kottlowski said.

“Impacts from Hurricane Michael along the Florida Panhandle will include a dangerous storm surge, flooding rainfall and damaging winds.”

The storm surge in some places in Florida could reach more than 10 feet, the NHC warned.

A tropical storm warning was issued from Fernandina Beach Florida to South Santee River South Carolina. A tropical storm watch has been issued from South Santee River South Carolina to Duck North Carolina, including Pamlico and Albemarle Sounds.

Evacuation Orders

A number mandatory evacuations have been ordered in Florida counties ahead of Michael.

The Florida Disaster website on Oct. 9 said that parts or all of Bay County, Citrus County, Franklin County, Dixie County, Gulf County, Jackson County, Levy County, Okaloosa County, Taylor County, Wakulla County, and Walton County have been issued mandatory evacuation orders.

Escambia County, Santa Rosa County, Pasco County, Madison County, Liberty County Leon County, Hernando County, Gadsden County, and Calhoun County are under voluntary or phased evacuation orders.