Hurricane Michael: Florida Governor Rick Scott ‘scared to death’ for residents as 155mph winds pummel Panhandle
Evacuation window closes as Michael approaches Category 5 wind speeds
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Hurricane Michael has hit the coast of Florida, bringing 155mph winds and a life-threatening storm surge of up to 13ft (4m).
The hurricane strengthened to a Category 4 storm, with wind speeds almost pushing the top-level Category 5 – with authorities warning that the “potentially catastrophic” cyclone will cause major damage.
“Our biggest concern is … the people that chose not to evacuate,” Mr Scott told CNN. Earlier, the governor warned of “unimaginable devastation” before the storm hit land.
“Hurricane Michael is forecast to be the most destructive hurricane to hit the Florida Panhandle in a century,” Mr Scott said. Donald Trump has said that “we are very well prepared” for impact.
Follow our liveblog below bringing you all the latest on Hurricane Michael.
Additional reporting by agencies
A senior meteorologist has told how watching Hurricane Michael bear down on the US coast has given him a "sick feeling in my stomach".
Last night Marshall Shepherd, of the University of Georgia and a former president of the American Meteorological Society, tweeted that warnings about the storm's intensity were not "drama".
The NHC's latest update upgrading Michael to Category 4 contained "worrisome words", he added.
Such a storm has never hit Florida's panhandle region, another meteorologist said.
The last major hurricane to hit the area was Dennis in 2005, according to hurricane center data.
Hurricane Michael's maximum wind speed has strengthened to 140mph, the NHC says in its latest update. More to follow...
From the NHC's latest update:
• "Reports from an Air Force Reserve Hurricane Hunter aircraft indicate that maximum sustained winds have increased to near 140mph with higher gusts. Michael is an extremely dangerous Category 4 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson hurricane wind scale"
• Additional strengthening remains possible before landfall
• Tropical storm warning now in force as far north as Surf City, North Carolina, a barrier community which is still recovering from Hurricane Florence
• "Heavy rainfall from Michael could produce life-threatening flash flooding from the Florida panhandle and Big Bend region into portions of Georgia, the Carolinas and Virginia"
• The worst storm surge is expected between Tyndall Air Force Base and Keaton Beach - up to 13ft
The NHC has put out a handy map of where its various warnings are in force.
A reminder of what Donald Trump has said about Hurricane Michael.
He warned it could be "even more intense than Florence" but praised Floridians, saying "folks in the Pan Handle can take care of anything".
On Wednesday morning Florida governor Rick Scott issued a further warning: "Storm surge can occur before, during, or after the center of a storm passes through an area. I’m asking all Floridians to stay vigilant throughout tonight and tomorrow as we brace for Hurricane Michael to make landfall.
An early picture of Michael's effects include thundery conditions and a hit to energy production.
Some of the storm's most significant early impact was to offshore energy production. US producers in the Gulf cut oil production by about 40 per cent and natural gas output by 28 per cent on Tuesday, the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement said.
The region should brace for "major infrastructure damage", specifically to electricity distribution, wastewater treatment systems and transportation networks, Jeff Byard, associate administrator for the Federal Emergency Management Agency, told reporters on a conference call.
And one Twitter user in Panama City, FL, said: "Outer band of Hurricane Michael coming ashore here. Light rain and thunder has just begun. Winds should be picking up in the next couple of hours."
Winds as strong as Michael is producing can inflict substantial damage to roofs and walls of even well-constructed homes, according to the National Weather Service.
Additional reporting by Reuters
The NHC is providing hourly updates on Michael's progress. The storm is currently about 120 miles south-southwest of Panama City, FL, and moving north at 13mph.
Maximum sustained wind speed is still 140mph, the agency said.
Rainbands associated with the storm are currently sweeping the Florida panhandle region.
Georgia governor Nathan Deal has declared a state of emergency for 92 counties in that state.
About 2,500 National Guard troops were deployed to assist with evacuations and storm preparations, and more than 4,000 others were on standby. Some 17,000 utility restoration workers were also on call.
The International Space Station has captured stunning footage of Hurricane Michael from orbit.
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