Reports From The Coast As Of 11:30 AM
Already getting plenty of reports coming in from the Florida panhandle, including wind gusts of hurricane-strength, storm surge flooding, and structural damage.
Category: Tropical
Hurricane Michael As Of 11:00 AM CDT
A private weather station on St. George Island, Florida, recently reported a sustained wind of 46 mph (74 km/h) and wind gust of 66 mph (106 km/h).
Life-Threatening Hurricane Michael Now Has Top Winds of 150 mph, Pressure Down to 923 Millibars
Hurricane Michael continues to rapidly intensify right up to landfall. Top winds are now 150 mph and the central pressure is 920 mb.
The Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale
The Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale is a 1 to 5 rating based on a hurricane’s sustained wind speed. This scale estimates potential property damage. Hurricanes reaching Category 3 and higher are considered major hurricanes because of their potential for significant loss of life and damage.
Extreme Wind Warning Now Issued For Parts Of The Florida Panhandle
National Weather Service Doppler Radar indicated extreme winds in excess of 130 MPH, associated with the eyewall of Hurricane Michael, were moving onshore.
The Latest On Hurricane Michael At 10:00 AM
Maximum Sustained Winds: 145 MPH
Minimum Central Pressure: 928 mb
Movement: NNE at 14 MPH
Location: About 60 miles SW of Panama City and about 65 miles WSW of Apalachicola.
9 a.m. Update on Michael: Destructive Eyewall Less Than Four Hours Away, Winds Increasing Rapidly
The devastating eyewall of Intense Hurricane Michael is less than four hours from beloved sections of the Florida Panhandle coast between Laguna Beach and Cape San Blas. The eyewall will bring extreme winds and storm surge of 9-14 feet to the coast, spreading far inland in places. This is a life threatening situation and anyone still in place needs to assess their situation and go to their last resort shelter.
8 a.m. Update: 145 mph Category Four, Pressure 933 Millibars
Water levels are rising along the coast of the Florida Panhandle and Big Bend area. The hurricane continues to strengthen and has turned just to the right of due north heading for an early afternoon landfall near or just east of Panama City it appears.
Hurricane Michael to Bring Unprecedented Surge and Wind as Well as Flooding Rains to Northwest Florida
Here are some important forecast graphics for surge, wind and rain associated with Hurricane Michael.
6 a.m. NHC Update: Pressure Even Lower, Northeasterly Turn May Be Starting
The Air Force plane continues to find lower and lower central pressures in Hurricane Michael.
Michael Nearing Landfall; Cooler Days Ahead
MICHAEL NOW A CATEGORY FOUR HURRICANE: Overnight Michael strengthened into a dangerous, life threatening category four hurricane in the Gulf of Mexico with sustained winds of 140 mph. Landfall comes around midday today near Panama City Beach.
5 a.m. Update from the National Hurricane Center
Rainbands are spreading across the Florida Panhandle. Pressure has fallen to 937 millibars. Top winds are 140 mph.
Pressure Down to 937 Millibars
Four Category Hurricane Michael continues to intensify and may do so right up to landfall.
Early Morning Notes on Extremely Dangerous Hurricane Michael
Category four Hurricane Michael is turning north-northeast as expected and will make landfall somewhere between the communities of 30A and Apalachicola early this afternoon with a devastating and deadly storm surge, destructive winds and flooding rains.
At 10:00 PM, Strong Category 3 Hurricane Michael Continues To Strengthen
As of the latest update from the National Hurricane Center, maximum sustained winds are at 125 MPH, making it a major hurricane at category 3 strength. Movement is still to the north at 12 MPH. The minimum central pressure is at 947mb.
Satellite Sheldon Compares Michael, Harvey and Florence
Friend of the blog and satellite expert Sheldon Kusselson has produced a neat infographic tonight comparing Michael with Hurricanes Harvey, which produced tremendous floods in Texas last year, and this year’s Florence, which caused flooding in the Carolinas.
