HURRICANES

Hurricane Michael moving past Florida with winds down to 75 mph

Cheryl McCloud
Treasure Coast Newspapers
Hurricane Michael 1:15 p.m. Oct. 10, 2018

Editor's note: This story will be updated throughout the day as conditions change.

Hurricane Michael is weakening as it moves across south-central Georgia.

Michael made landfall near Mexico Beach, Florida, with 155 mph winds, bringing life-threatening storm surge, hurricane-force winds and heavy rainfall. Storm surge levels are gradually subsiding on the Gulf Coast.

More:Hurricane Michael: What you need to know in graphics

Storm surge levels will continue to decrease along the coast of the Florida Panhandle tonight. A National Ocean Service water level station at Apalachicola is now indicating about 2 feet of inundation above ground level.

Michael is the third-largest hurricane to make landfall in the U.S. and the first category 4 hurricane to make landfall in the Panhandle on record.

  • Location: 45 miles south-southwest of Macon, Georgia
  • Maximum sustained winds: 75 mph
  • Movement: northeast at 20 mph
  • Next advisory: 2 a.m.

More:One death so far as Hurricane Michael inundates Florida Panhandle

At 11 p.m., the center of Hurricane Michael was 45 miles south-southwest of Macon, Georgia.

More:LIVE: TCPalm is at the National Hurricane Center for the latest on Hurricane Michael

Michael is moving toward the northeast near 20 mph, and this general motion should continue tonight. A motion toward the northeast at a faster forward speed is expected on Thursday through Friday night.

On the forecast track, the core of Michael will move across southwestern and central Georgia overnight, and move through east-central Georgia Thursday morning.

More:Hurricane Michael: Watch live video feeds as the storm makes Florida landfall

Michael will then move northeastward across the southeastern United States through late Thursday, and then move off the Mid-Atlantic coast by early Friday.

Maximum sustained winds have decreased to near 75 mph with higher gusts. It is a category 1 hurricane.

More:Hurricane Michael ravages Florida: See harrowing videos posted to social media after landfall

More:Hurricane Michael could rival worst storms on record to hit Florida Panhandle

Michael will steadily weaken as it crosses the southeastern United States through Thursday night, becoming a tropical storm by Thursday morning.

Michael is forecast to restrengthen some Thursday night and Friday when it moves off the east coast of the United States and becomes a post-tropical cyclone Friday.

Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 30 miles from the center, and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 160 miles. 

More:How big is Hurricane Michael?

The estimated minimum central pressure is 970 mb.

More:Hurricane Michael just surpassed Andrew, Katrina in minimum pressure

Hurricane categories and what they mean

Category 1: Winds of 74 to 95 mph: Very dangerous winds will produce some damage: Well-constructed frame homes could have damage to roof, shingles, vinyl siding and gutters. Large branches of trees will snap and shallowly rooted trees may be toppled. Extensive damage to power lines and poles likely will result in power outages that could last a few to several days.

Category 2: Winds of 96 to 110 mph: Extremely dangerous winds will cause extensive damage: Well-constructed frame homes could sustain major roof and siding damage. Many shallowly rooted trees will be snapped or uprooted and block numerous roads. Near-total power loss is expected with outages that could last from several days to weeks.

Category 3: Winds of 111 to 129 mph.  Devastating damage will occur: Well-built framed homes may incur major damage or removal of roof decking and gable ends. Many trees will be snapped or uprooted, blocking numerous roads. Electricity and water will be unavailable for several days to weeks after the storm passes.

Category 4: Winds of 130 to 156 mph. It can bring catastrophic damage. According to the National Hurricane Center, well-built framed homes can sustain severe damage with loss of most of the roof structure and/or some exterior walls. Most trees will be snapped or uprooted and power poles downed. Fallen trees and power poles will isolate residential areas. Power outages will last weeks to possibly months. Most of the area will be uninhabitable for weeks or months.

Category 5: Winds of 157 mph or higher and would bring catastrophic damage. A high percentage of framed homes will be destroyed, with total roof failure and wall collapse. Fallen trees and power poles will isolate residential areas. Power outages will last for weeks to possibly months. Most of the area will be uninhabitable for weeks or months.

Watches/warnings issued for those in the path of Hurricane Michael

Projected path of Hurricane Michael as of 11 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 10, 2018.

A storm surge warning is in effect for:

  •  Panama City, Florida, to Keaton Beach, Florida

A storm surge watch is in effect for:

  •  Ocracoke Inlet North Carolina to Duck North Carolina

More:Hurricane Michael could rival worst storms on record to hit Florida Panhandle

A tropical storm warning is in effect for:

  •  North of Fernandina Beach Florida to Duck North Carolina
  •  Pamlico and Albemarle Sounds

Hazards affecting land from Hurricane Michael

Storm surge: The combination of a dangerous storm surge and the tide will cause normally dry areas near the coast to be flooded by rising waters moving inland from the shoreline. The water has the potential to reach the following heights above ground if peak surge occurs at the time of high tide:

  • Tyndall Air Force Base FL to Keaton Beach FL...9-13 ft
  • Okaloosa/Walton County Line FL to Tyndall Air Force Base FL...6-9 ft
  • Keaton Beach FL to Cedar Key FL...6-9 ft
  • Cedar Key FL to Chassahowitzka FL...4-6 ft
  • Chassahowitzka to Anna Maria Island FL including Tampa Bay...2-4 ft

Wind:  Hurricane conditions are expected within the hurricane warning area along the U.S. Gulf Coast today, with tropical storm conditions expected to begin during the next few hours.  Hurricane conditions will also spread well inland across portions of the
Florida Panhandle, southeastern Alabama and southwestern Georgia.

Tropical storm conditions are expected in the tropical storm warning area during the next several hours, and are possible within the tropical storm watch area by that time.  Hurricane conditions are possible within the hurricane watch area today.

Tropical storm conditions are expected to spread northward within the warning area along the southeast U.S. coast beginning tonight, and are possible in the watch area by late Thursday and Thursday night.

Rainfall:  Michael is expected to produce the following rainfall amounts through Friday:

  • Florida Panhandle and Big Bend, southeast Alabama, and portions of southwest and central Georgia...4 to 8 inches, with isolated maximum amounts of 12 inches. This rainfall could lead to life-threatening flash floods.
  • The remainder of Georgia, the Carolinas, and southern Virginia...3 to 6 inches, with isolated maximum amounts of 8 inches. This rainfall could lead to life-threatening flash floods.
  • Florida Peninsula, eastern Mid Atlantic, southern New England coast...1-3 inches.

Surf:  Swells generated by Michael are affecting the coasts of the eastern and northern Gulf of Mexico, and will spread to portions of the northwestern and western Gulf of Mexico coast during the next day or so.  These swells are likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions. 

Tornadoes:  A few tornadoes will be possible across parts of the Florida Panhandle and the northern Florida Peninsula through this afternoon.  This risk will spread into parts of central and southern Georgia and southern South Carolina this afternoon and tonight.