Hurricane Michael Grows to Terrifying Category 4

Early Wednesday, Hurricane Michael grew significantly overnight into a powerful and possible devastating Category 4 storm as it heads towards Florida’s Panhandle.

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Tropical Storm Michael Upgraded to Hurricane in Gulf of Mexico

The rapid and intense strengthening of the storm is threatening to hit the region as the most intense hurricane to strike the Panhandle, according to records dating back to 1851.

“A potentially catastrophic event is developing,” the National Weather Service forecast office stated, as the Gulf Coast region brace for the onslaught of the hurricane, ahead of the projected midweek impact.

Category 4 Michael is packing maximum sustained winds of 130 miles per hour, centered about 170 miles south of Apalachicola, Florida and moving north at some 12 miles per hour.

Florida Governor Rick Scott ordered activation of the State Emergency Operations Center in Tallahassee. Evacuation notices are also issued for the northern Gulf Coast region and state of emergency was effected for both Alabama and Georgia. Some 3.7 million people are under hurricane warnings.

The weather experts warned that the hurricane could become stronger before making landfall near Panama and Florida late Wednesday. “Hurricanes that intensify overnight just before reaching land are the worst nightmare of forecasters and emergency managers,” Weather Underground’s Bob Henson, posted on Twitter.

The ocean’s surge could reach anywhere from nine to 13 feet, resulting in flooded roads and building.

The weather service warned that buildings could be completely washed away and that “locations may be uninhabitable for an extended period” after the hurricane.

The office also added that there could be “widespread power outages, downed trees blocking access to roads and endangering individuals, structural damage to homes and businesses, isolated flash flooding and the potential for a few tornadoes.”

Only three major hurricanes Category 3 or higher have hit the Panhandle since 1950: Eloise in 1975, Opal in 1995 and Dennis in 2005.