Miami, Fla. (970 WFLA)-At 5:00 AM EDT, the center of Hurricane Michael was located near latitude 24.1 North, longitude 85.9 West. About about 420 miles south of Panama City, Florida, about 390 miles south of Apalachicola, Florida.
Michael is moving toward the north-northwest near 12 mph. A north-northwestward to northward motion is expected through tonight,followed by a northeastward motion on Wednesday and Thursday.
On the forecast track, the center of Michael will continue to move over the southern Gulf of Mexico this morning, then move across the eastern Gulf of Mexico later today and tonight.
The center of Michael is expected to move inland over the Florida Panhandle or Florida Big Bend area on Wednesday, and then move northeastward across the southeastern United States Wednesday night and Thursday.
Maximum sustained winds are near 90 mph with higher gusts. Strengthening is expected, and Michael is forecast to be a major hurricane at landfall in Florida. Weakening is expected after landfall as Michael moves through the southeastern United States.
Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 40 miles from the center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 195 miles.
NOAA buoy 42003 recently reported 1-minute mean winds of 40 mph and a wind gust of 47 mph.The estimated minimum central pressure is 973 mb (28.74 inches).
Michael moving north-northwestward through the Southern Gulf of Mexico...Storm surge and hurricane warnings in effect for the northeastern Gulf coast.
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, includingTampa Bay.
A Tropical Storm Watch is in effect for...* Chassahowitzka to Anna Maria Island Florida, including Tampa Bay.
RAINFALL: Michael is expected to produce the following rainfall amounts through Friday...
Florida Panhandle and Big Bend, southeast Alabama, and southern Georgia...4 to 8 inches, with isolated maximum amounts of 12 inches. This rainfall could lead to life threatening flash floods.
Eastern Georgia, the Carolinas, and southern Virginia...3 to 6 inches. This rainfall could lead to life-threatening flash floods.
Florida Peninsula, eastern Mid Atlantic, southern New England coast...1-3 inches.
Graphic Credit: NHC Miami