Tropical Storm Michael was upgraded to a
hurricane on Monday as it moved toward the Gulf of Mexico and Florida
Panhandle, the National Hurricane Center said.
Michael was about 145 miles east-northeast of Cozumel, Mexico, and 20 miles south of the western trip of Cuba, the NHC said in a 2 p.m. advisory Monday. The storm was moving north at 7 mph and strengthening with maximum sustained winds of 75 mph, making it a Category 1 hurricane.
A hurricane watch had been issued for the Florida Panhandle and a storm surge warning for areas between Navarre, Fla., and Anna Maria Island, Fla., including Tampa Bay. A hurricane watch is in effect from the Florida-Alabama border eastward to Florida's Suwanee River. States of emergency were issued for more than two dozen Florida counties.
Florida Gov. Rick Scott said Sunday evening 500 National Guardsmen have been activated for planning, logistics and response. He added that the effects of the storm could have similarities to Hurricane Hermine, which caused lengthy power outages in the Tallahassee area two years ago.
"Remember, this storm could grow stronger and be a Category 3 hitting our state," Scott said.
The storm's center is expected to move northward across the Yucatan Channel on Monday and across the eastern Gulf of Mexico through Wednesday. The storm is expected to move inland over the Florida Panhandle or Florida Big Bend area by Wednesday, and then move northeastward across the southeastern United States, the NHC said.
Once it reaches land, Michael is forecast to weaken into a tropical storm when it passes through the East Coast, including the New York City area, by Friday morning.
As many as 7 inches of rain are expected over western Cuba and 4 inches over the Yucatan Peninsula, Belize and northern Honduras through Tuesday.
Storm surges of up to 12 feet, which could lead to life-threatening flooding, have been predicted by the NHC on the Florida coast. The Tampa Bay area could see up to 4 feet.
The only other storm currently in the Atlantic Ocean is Tropical Storm Leslie, which has zig-zagged in intensity. Maximum sustained winds are near 50 mph with higher gusts, the NHC said in an 11 a.m. CDT advisory, adding that slow strengthening is forecast during the next few days. The storm is currently in the central Atlantic Ocean, 1,035 miles east of Bermuda and 1,135 miles west of the Azores. Leslie was a subtropical storm on Sept. 23 but weakened into depression, then back into a tropical storm.
Michael was about 145 miles east-northeast of Cozumel, Mexico, and 20 miles south of the western trip of Cuba, the NHC said in a 2 p.m. advisory Monday. The storm was moving north at 7 mph and strengthening with maximum sustained winds of 75 mph, making it a Category 1 hurricane.
A hurricane watch had been issued for the Florida Panhandle and a storm surge warning for areas between Navarre, Fla., and Anna Maria Island, Fla., including Tampa Bay. A hurricane watch is in effect from the Florida-Alabama border eastward to Florida's Suwanee River. States of emergency were issued for more than two dozen Florida counties.
Florida Gov. Rick Scott said Sunday evening 500 National Guardsmen have been activated for planning, logistics and response. He added that the effects of the storm could have similarities to Hurricane Hermine, which caused lengthy power outages in the Tallahassee area two years ago.
"Remember, this storm could grow stronger and be a Category 3 hitting our state," Scott said.
The storm's center is expected to move northward across the Yucatan Channel on Monday and across the eastern Gulf of Mexico through Wednesday. The storm is expected to move inland over the Florida Panhandle or Florida Big Bend area by Wednesday, and then move northeastward across the southeastern United States, the NHC said.
Once it reaches land, Michael is forecast to weaken into a tropical storm when it passes through the East Coast, including the New York City area, by Friday morning.
As many as 7 inches of rain are expected over western Cuba and 4 inches over the Yucatan Peninsula, Belize and northern Honduras through Tuesday.
Storm surges of up to 12 feet, which could lead to life-threatening flooding, have been predicted by the NHC on the Florida coast. The Tampa Bay area could see up to 4 feet.
The only other storm currently in the Atlantic Ocean is Tropical Storm Leslie, which has zig-zagged in intensity. Maximum sustained winds are near 50 mph with higher gusts, the NHC said in an 11 a.m. CDT advisory, adding that slow strengthening is forecast during the next few days. The storm is currently in the central Atlantic Ocean, 1,035 miles east of Bermuda and 1,135 miles west of the Azores. Leslie was a subtropical storm on Sept. 23 but weakened into depression, then back into a tropical storm.
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