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The National Hurricane Center expects Hurricane Michael to gain momentum as the northeastern Gulf of Mexico approaches. Meteorologist Ashley Batey talks about the opportune moment for landing along the panhandle of Florida.
USA TODAY & # 39; HUI

A satellite image shows Hurricane Michael who is shooting near Cuba on October 8, 2018.(Photo: National Hurricane Center)

Hurricane Michael, which formed on Monday morning in the Caribbean Sea, is preparing to touch the mainland as a major hurricane with winds blowing at 120 km / h along the Gulf Coast in middle of the week.

Maximum sustained winds increased to near 75 mph with stronger gusts, the National Hurricane Center said. A steady, rapid boost is expected in the coming days. Michael is expected to become a major hurricane Tuesday or Tuesday night and is expected to land on Wednesday afternoon or in the evening.

"Michael could produce three life-threatening dangers along some parts of the northeastern Gulf Coast: storm surges, heavy rainfall, and winds of a hurricane force," according to the center. # 39; hurricane.

A hurricane watch was posted on Florida's Gulf Coast from the Alabama-Florida border to the Suwannee River in Florida. A storm surge of up to 12 feet is expected for much of the Florida coast.

According to the hurricane center, a category 3 hurricane could have the effect that "electricity and water will not be available for several days, or even weeks after the storm has passed".

A major hurricane is a Category 3, 4 or 5 hurricane, with winds of at least 111 mph. If the forecast is accurate, it would be only the 11th hurricane to hit Florida in October since records began in 1851, according to Colorado State University meteorologist Phil Klotzbach.

As the storm approached, Florida Governor Rick Scott declared an emergency in 26 counties on Sunday night, including Escambia and Santa Rosa.

More: Follow Hurricane Michael

"Take it seriously and protect your family," said Scott from Bay County on Monday. "We know that a storm like Michael can be devastating and deadly."

Florida State University has announced its closure Tuesday through Friday this week due to the imminent hurricane.

Scott said that 500 members of the Florida National Guard had been activated for planning, logistics and response to the storm and that another 5,000 were ready.

"Do not take a chance on the storm surge," Scott said. "This storm will be life threatening and very dangerous, it happens very quickly."

The National Weather Service in Tallahassee said "it 's about a storm to be taken very seriously.The preparations for the storm should be hastily completed today and Tuesday. "

Early Monday afternoon, Michael was concentrated about 20 miles from the western tip of Cuba and about 600 miles south of Tallahassee, Florida. It was moving north at 7 mph.

Once the storm has moved inland, it could be an unwanted extra rain on the Carolinas, which were violently beaten by Florence in September. "The areas hard hit by Florence could be disrupted by ongoing cleanup efforts or a new flood depending on the trajectory of the storm," said Kristina Pydynowski, Senior Meteorologist at AccuWeather.

Michael is the seventh hurricane of the 2018 Atlantic hurricane season.

Meanwhile, in the Pacific, Hurricane Sergio turned about 1,300 miles southwest of the Baja Peninsula in Mexico. It is expected to move to Baja this week, eventually landing as a tropical storm by the end of the week.

In addition, according to hurricane-free weather forecasts, heavy rains from a separate system are expected to overwhelm the central United States on Monday. Flash floods are possible in parts of Texas, Oklahoma and Kansas.

Contributor: Karl Etters, Tallahassee Democrat

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