Hurricane Michael is just hours away from a catastrophic and unprecedented panhandle in Florida, Big Bend, Category 4, landing

Hurricane Michael heads for an unprecedented and catastrophic Category 4 strike on the Florida Panhandle and Big Bend with a massive storm surge and winds over 100mph that can be seen not only near the coast but also to some extent inland, which could leave some areas without electricity for more than a week.

No long-time resident of this region will have seen such a violent hurricane before.

As highlighted by the National Weather Service in Tallahassee early Wednesday, this morning is the last chance to go to a safe place in Hurricane Panhandle and Big Bend Florida and storm surges warned areas.

Michael is currently centered about 140 miles south-southwest of Panama City, Florida, and heads north.

The rain is already installed in the Florida Panhandle, with heavier grains locally integrated. Michael's eye is now clearly visible from the Doppler radar of the National Meteorological Service at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida.

(INTERACTIVE: The latest radar of Hurricane Michael)

A storm warning alert is in effect from the line between Okaloosa County and Walton Florida and the Anclote River, Florida. This means that a life – threatening flood will occur in the area of ​​alert, the highest during the landing on Wednesday.

Stormwatch watches are in effect from Anclote River, Florida, to Anna Maria Island, Florida, including Tampa Bay. This means that a life-threatening flood is possible in the surveillance zone.

A hurricane warning is issued for the Gulf Coast of Florida, from the border between Alabama and Florida and the Suwanee River in Florida, including Pensacola, Panama City, Destin and Tallahassee. The hurricane warning also extends inland to southwest Georgia, including Albany. Hurricane warnings are issued 36 hours before the expected arrival of tropical storm force winds (over 39 mph), when outdoor preparations become unsafe.

Tropical storm warnings are in effect from the Alabama-Florida border to the Mississippi-Alabama border from Suwannee River, Florida, south to Chassahowitzka, Florida and along the coast. the southeast coast from Fernandina Beach Florida to Surf City North Carolina. The tropical storm warning also extends to the inland south of Alabama and southwestern Georgia including Mobile, Alabama and Valdosta, Georgia ). This means that tropical storm force winds are expected somewhere in the warning zone within 36 hours.

Tropical storm watches have been posted from Chassahowitzka, Florida, to Anna Maria Island, Florida, including Tampa Bay, from the Mississippi / Alabama border to the mouth of the Pearl River and along the southeastern coast of the South Santee River in South Carolina. in Duck, North Carolina, including Pamlico and Albemarle sounds. This means that tropical storm force winds are possible within 48 hours.

Interests along the Northeastern Gulf Coast in Michael's Trail should be finished with preparations. There are only a few precious hours left to go out if you are in an area where evacuation has been ordered. Follow the advice of local authorities if you must evacuate, especially if you live in a place subject to storm surges.

(LATEST NEWS: The Gulf Coast is preparing for Hurricane Michael)

Provide

Timing

– The fallout will occur on Wednesday afternoon on the Florida Panhandle.
– The situation will continue to deteriorate on the northeast coast of the Gulf on Wednesday morning.
– After landing, Michael will accelerate inland in the southeastern United States, Wednesday night to Thursday evening, with gusty winds and torrential rains.
– Michael could improve precipitation in central Atlantic and southeastern New England on Thursday night and Friday.

Intensity

– The National Hurricane Center states that "an additional boost is possible before landing" today in the Florida Panhandle or in the Big Bend area of ​​Florida.
– As mentioned earlier, Michael will be the most powerful hurricane ever recorded in the Panhandle and Big Bend area of ​​Florida.

Storm wave

Catastrophic and catastrophic floods, caused by a storm surge, will occur along the near shore and east of the center touching ground.

The National Hurricane Center says water levels could rise to the following heights if the storm surge comes at high tide:

– Tyndall Air Force Base in Keaton Beach, Florida: 9 to 13 feet
– Okaloosa / Walton County Line at Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida: 6 to 9 feet
– Keaton Beach to Cedar Key, Florida: 6 to 9 feet
– Cedar Key in Chassahowitzka, Florida: 4 to 6 feet
– From Chassahowitzka to Anna Maria Island, Florida, including Tampa Bay: 2 to 4 feet

(MAP: Map of potential floods of storm surges)

Here are the disturbing high tides that occurred at the beginning of Thursday for some localities in the area threatened by storm surges along the Gulf Coast of Florida (times are local):

– Panama City: 22:30 Wednesday
– Apalachicola: 18:10 Wednesday | Thursday at 4:58 pm
– Cedar key: 3:36 pm Wednesday | Thursday 3:18 pm
– Tampa Bay / St. Petersburg: 16:06 Wednesday | Thursday 3:09

On the southeastern coast of the United States, coastal winds and strong astronomical tides will also cause coastal flooding this week.

Charleston Harbor expected to experience minor to moderate coastal flooding at high tide.

Some coastal floods will also occur as far west as the Texas coast, as noted on Monday. Bolivar Peninsula and South Padre Island.

Wind

– Hurricane force winds (over 100 km / h) are expected to arrive in the hurricane warning zone of the northeastern Gulf Coast on Wednesday.
– Hurricane force winds will also spread inland in parts of the Florida Panhandle, southeastern Alabama and southwestern Georgia.
– According to the National Hurricane Center, Category 4 winds in Michael's eye wall are able to catastrophic damage, including significant damage to well-built and well-framed homes, many trees broke and were uprooted, blocking many roads.
– Tropical storm force winds (over 39mph) are expected to arrive in the hurricane warning zone on the northeast Gulf Coast on Wednesday early.
– Tropical storm force winds are more likely to arrive in the tropical storm warning zone along the northeastern Gulf Coast early Wednesday and are possible in the tropical storm monitoring zone. at this time.
– Tropical storm force winds are expected to arrive Wednesday in the tropical storm warning zone along the southeast coast of the United States and are possible in the tropical storm monitoring area at the end of Wednesday.

Potential for power failure

– Most customers will lose electricity, causing significant damage to trees and structure along Michael's Way and just inland, where it will land on Florida Panhandle and Southwest of Georgia. These power outages can last more than a week in some of these areas.
– Generalized power outages could spread to other parts of southern and eastern Georgia, southeastern Alabama, South Carolina's Lowcountry. and southeastern North Carolina, because of Michael's faster movement.
– Winds that are likely to cause at least sparse power outages and some tree damage may spread to parts of northern Georgia, South Carolina, central and northeastern North Carolina. North and possibly southeastern Virginia. This is of particular concern in areas where the soil is still saturated by the torrential rains of Florence in northeastern South Carolina and North Carolina.
– A forecast model of the University of Michigan suggests that there could be at least 1 million customers without Michael's electricity, from Florida to North Carolina
– Metropolitan areas likely to experience power outages include: Tallahassee, Atlanta, Jacksonville, Columbia, Greenville-Spartanburg, Charleston, Charlotte and Raleigh-Durham.

The precipitations

– According to the National Hurricane Center, the Florida Panhandle and Big Bend are expected to reach a total rainfall of 4 to 8 inches in southeast Alabama and southwestern and central Georgia. Locally, it is possible to rain up to a foot of rain. This can cause flash floods threatening life in some areas.
– The rest of Georgia, the Carolinas and southern Virginia can get 3 to 6 inches of rain, which can trigger flash floods. Locally, up to 8 inches is possible. This will include some areas devastated by the floods caused by Hurricane Florence. That said, this system will work quickly rather than stop as Florence did and will not bring significant rainfall.
– Rain in the Florida Peninsula, east-central Atlantic, and the south coast of New England can reach 1 to 3 inches

tornadoes

– As it is typical of hurricanes, isolated tornadoes will be a threat on the east side of the storm.
– On Wednesday and Wednesday evening, the tornado threat will extend mainly from north Florida to south and central Georgia and south to South Carolina.
– Thursday and Thursday evening, this tornado threat extends to the coastal Carolinas.

Check Weather.com throughout the week for more details on Michael's forecast.

History of the storm

Michael's outdoor rainbands have already soaked the Florida Keys on Monday. A gust of wind at 55 mph was measured at the office of the National Weather Service in Key West, Florida, late Monday afternoon, in association with Hurricane Michael's outside rainbands.

Michael quickly stepped up from 11:00 am EDT on Sunday at 11:00 am EDT on Monday, when his winds went from 35 mph to 75 mph during this 24 hour period.