Hurricane Michael is now bringing hurricane-force winds to western Cuba and it continues northward at 9 mph nearing the Gulf of Mexico.
As of 5 p.m. Monday, Michael is 520 miles south of Apalachicola, in Florida's panhandle, where it's expected to make landfall Wednesday. Forecasters have also extended watches and warnings west of the panhandle. Hurricane Michael's top winds are now 80 mph.
Forecasters say Michael is expected to become a category-three hurricane
WATCHES AND WARNINGS:
A Storm Surge Warning has been issued for the Gulf Coast of Florida from the Okaloosa/Walton County Line to Anclote River.
The Storm Surge Watch has been extended west of Navarre Florida to the Alabama/Florida border.
A Hurricane Warning has been issued for the Gulf Coast of Florida from the Alabama/Florida border eastward to Suwannee River.
A Hurricane Watch has been issued from the Alabama/Florida border westward to the Mississippi/Alabama border.
A Tropical Storm Warning has been issued from the Alabama/Florida border westward to the Mississippi/Alabama border and from Suwannee River Florida southward to Chassahowitzka Florida.
A Tropical Storm Watch has been issued from the Mississippi/Alabama border westward to the Mouth of the Pearl River.
SUMMARY OF WATCHES AND WARNINGS IN EFFECT:
A Storm Surge Warning is in effect for... * Okaloosa/Walton County Line Florida to Anclote River Florida
A Storm Surge Watch is in effect for... * Anclote River Florida to Anna Maria Island Florida, including Tampa Bay * Alabama/Florida border to Okaloosa/Walton County Line Florida
A Hurricane Warning is in effect for... * Alabama/Florida border to Suwannee River Florida * The Cuban province of Pinar del Rio
A Hurricane Watch is in effect for... * Alabama/Florida border to the Mississippi/Alabama border
A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for... * Alabama/Florida border to the Mississippi/Alabama border * Suwanee River Florida to Chassahowitzka Florida * The Cuban province of the Isle of Youth * The coast of Mexico from Tulum to Cabo Catoche, including Cozumel
A Tropical Storm Watch is in effect for... * Chassahowitzka to Anna Maria Island Florida, including Tampa Bay * Mississippi/Alabama border to the Mouth of the Pearl River