Florida faces category 4 hurricane Michael

Maximum sustained winds from Hurricane Michael have increased to near 130 mph (210 km/h) with higher gusts, making Michael a category 4 hurricane as it moves towards Florida, according to the National Hurricane Center (NHC).

On the forecast track, the centre of Michael will move across the north-eastern Gulf of Mexico this morning (Oct. 10). The centre of Michael's eye is then expected to move inland over the Florida Panhandle or Florida Big Bend area later today, move north-eastward across the south-eastern United States tonight and Thursday, and then move off the Mid-Atlantic coast away from the US on Friday.

Hurricane conditions are expected along the US Gulf Coast today, with tropical storm conditions expected during the next several hours.  Hurricane conditions will also spread well inland across portions of the Florida Panhandle, south-eastern Alabama and southwestern Georgia.

Florida Panhandle and Big Bend, southeast Alabama, and portions of southwest and central Georgia are set to face 4 to 8 inches of rainfall, with isolated maximum amounts of 12 inches. This rainfall could lead to life threatening flash floods, the NHC said.

The remainder of Georgia, the Carolinas, and southern Virginia are set to face 3 to 6 inches of rainfall, with isolated maximum amounts of 8 inches. This rainfall could also lead to life-threatening flash floods, the NHC noted.

Rainfall at the Florida Peninsula, eastern Mid Atlantic, southern New England coast are expected to reach 1-3 inches.

Swells generated by Michael are affecting the coasts of the eastern and northern Gulf of Mexico, and will spread to portions of the north-western and western Gulf of Mexico coast during the next day, the NHC said.  These swells are likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions, it added.

The threat for tornadoes will increase today into over parts of the Florida Panhandle, the northern Florida Peninsula, and southern Georgia.

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