Alabama 811 | Know What's Below.

Life-Threatening Hurricane Michael Now Has Top Winds of 150 mph, Pressure Down to 923 Millibars

| October 10, 2018 @ 10:40 am

Hurricane Michael continues to rapidly intensify even as it nears the coast late this morning.

Top winds are now 150 mph. The central pressure measured by the AR Hurricane Hunter crew was 921.7 millibars, but the sonde did not splash down in the center. We know this because winds at the location it splashed were 22 knots. The pressure was probably 920 millibars. But the NHC is still holding the central pressure at 923 mb as of the special 10:30 update.

If the central pressure is 920 millibars at landfall, Michael will tie Katrina as the third lowest central pressure of any U.S. landfalling hurricane.

Bay, Franklin, and Gulf Counties are under the Extreme Wind Warning for the imminent eyewall. Anyone hunkered down there can expect tornado-like damage with winds gusting over 130 mph.

Wakulla Emergency Management reports that their emergency responders will no longer answer calls.

Apalachicola just reported a storm surge of 6.6 feet. This continues to smash the former record of 6.3 feet established in 2005’s Hurricane Dennis.

Here is the latest update from the National Hurricane Center:

Hurricane Michael Tropical Cyclone Update
NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL AL142018
1030 AM CDT Wed Oct 10 2018

…MICHAEL STILL STRENGTHENING AS THE EYE NEARS THE COAST OF
THE FLORIDA PANHANDLE…

Data from an Air Force Reserve Hurricane Hunter aircraft indicate
that the maximum sustained winds have increased to near 150 mph
(240 km/h) with higher gusts. The aircraft also reported that the
minimum pressure has fallen to 923 mb (27.26 inches).

The Apalachicola airport recently reported a wind gust of 72 mph
(101 km/h).

Water levels continue to rise quickly along the coast of the Florida
Panhandle. A National Ocean Service water level station at
Apalachicola recently reported over 5 feet of inundation above
ground level.

SUMMARY OF 1030 AM CDT…1530 UTC…INFORMATION
———————————————–
LOCATION…29.5N 85.9W
ABOUT 50 MI…80 KM SSW OF PANAMA CITY FLORIDA
ABOUT 55 MI…90 KM WSW OF APALACHICOLA FLORIDA
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS…150 MPH…240 KM/H
PRESENT MOVEMENT…NNE OR 15 DEGREES AT 14 MPH…22 KM/H
MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE…923 MB…27.26 INCHES

$$
Forecaster Brown

Category: ALL POSTS, Tropical

About the Author ()

Bill Murray is the President of The Weather Factory. He is the site's official weather historian and a weekend forecaster. He also anchors the site's severe weather coverage. Bill Murray is the proud holder of National Weather Association Digital Seal #0001 @wxhistorian

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