Warning: Hurricane Michael to Be ‘Strongest Ever’ Storm to Hit the Florida Panhandle

Hurricane Michael is now an ‘extremely dangerous’ Category 4 storm after quickly gaining strength in the Gulf overnight into Wednesday morning as it drew closer to Florida, having been just a small tropical disturbance as recently as Sunday. According to the National Hurricane Center, Michael will bring with it life threatening storm surge and winds.

https://twitter.com/NHC_Atlantic/status/1049863809630912513

According to meteorologist Phil Klotzbach, there are no Category 4 hurricanes on record making landfall along the Florida panhandle. Florida Governor Rick Scott said Michael is expected to be “the most deadly, destructive storm to the panhandle in decades.”

Weather Channel hurricane expert Dr. Rick Knabb tweeted:

“This isn’t going to be like past western FL panhandle/AL majors like Dennis, Ivan, Opal, Eloise. And it’s not like Hermine, Kate farther east but weaker. #Michael will make new history for central Panhandle, Big Bend. Some of you could get water and wind worse than ever before.”

On Tuesday, The White House issued a statement after President Donald Trump approved Florida’s Emergency Declaration as the storm approached the southern U.S. state.

“Today, President Donald J. Trump declared that an emergency exists in the State of Florida and ordered Federal assistance to supplement State and local response efforts due to the emergency conditions resulting from Hurricane Michael beginning on October 7, 2018, and continuing.”

According to models, Hurricane Michael is expected to make landfall near Panama City, Florida on Wednesday afternoon. The path and area of landfall is not expected to change, nor is the storm expected to weaken prior to landfall. 

“A potentially catastrophic event is developing,” the National Weather Service office in Tallahassee, Florida, wrote Tuesday night. “Locations may be uninhabitable for weeks or months.”

The latest available landfall projections for #Michael from several different weather models. Their consensus time is between 1pm and 3pm CDT. The GFS has shifted a bit east of Panama City- and some other models show this as well. That would be bad news for #Tallahassee. pic.twitter.com/TjQrWGTs9j

— Jeffrey Fournier (@info_jfourni) October 10, 2018

Rainfall totals may reach upwards of 20 inches in Panama City.

https://twitter.com/tomsorrells/status/1049873480714457089

The storm gained strength and speed quickly, catching many Floridians off guard. Meteorologists have taken to social media to warn Florida residents.

With each frame, Hurricane #Michael is getting more and more terrifying this evening.

Folks, if you have friends or family or loved ones in the Florida Panhandle — call them right now. Make sure they are ok and paying attention.

This storm came up fast. It is deadly serious. pic.twitter.com/Jxkp4E1J2m

— Eric Holthaus (@EricHolthaus) October 10, 2018

This is not going to be good, this storm is likely a Cat 4 now. If you have friends or family in the FL panhandle & big bend area tell them to leave. #Michael #flwx pic.twitter.com/QlvrItTWgn

— Brad Panovich (@wxbrad) October 10, 2018

#Hurricane #Michael is now forecast by the National Hurricane Center to reach Category 4 strength as it heads towards the Florida Panhandle. 0 Category 4-5 hurricanes on record (since 1851) have made landfall in the Florida Panhandle. pic.twitter.com/WwKSWY8FHf

— Philip Klotzbach (@philklotzbach) October 10, 2018

Water levels are expected to rise significantly as Michael reaches northeastern Gulf Coast. As previously reported by The Mind Unleashed, this poses additional risks for coastal and inland residents alike due to the ongoing so-called red tide. Water laden with harmful toxins may find their way inland, onto land and into additional waterways with the surge.

A destructive and life-threatening storm surge event will occur along portions of the Florida Panhandle, Big Bend, and Nature Coast on Wednesday and Wed night. The worst storm surge is expected to be between Mexico Beach and Keaton Beach where 9-13' of inundation is possible. pic.twitter.com/Koao5p4GIk

— NHC Storm Surge (@NHC_Surge) October 9, 2018

Unfortunately, residents of the Carolinas, who are still dealing with devastating hurricane damage thanks to Hurricane Florence, will not come out from Michael unscathed. According to The Weather Channel, “the potential for damage from wind and rain extends inland across GA and the Carolinas.”

https://twitter.com/weatherchannel/status/1049862808211517440

As always, heed local warnings and evacuate when possible.