Hurricane Michael - LIVE: Trump warns storm is 'even more intense than Florence' as ‘life-threatening’ surges and floods predicted in Florida and Alabama

The storm is expected to develop into a Category 3 hurricane by the time it makes landfall on Wednesday near the US Gulf Coast

Florida Governor Rick Scott urges residents to prepare for tropical storm Michael

Tropical Storm Michael has now officially become a hurricane, the US National Hurricane Centre said.

The storm off Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula has rapidly strengthened and is expected to strike the Gulf Coast in the Florida Panhandle with potential winds of 100mph.

Florida Governor Rick Scott has declared a state of emergency in 26 counties as the hurricane approaches the state.

Follow updates on Storm Michael below, as they happened.

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Additional reporting from Reuters.

[8 October 2018 20:30 · Chris Riotta]

Florida’s local government has been tweeting guidelines for local residents preparing for Hurricane Michael to make landfall. 

Among the government’s safety tips include adding fuel to vehicles, withdrawing enough cash from the bank to last several days and encouraging residents not to wait “until a mandatory evacuation order is given”. 

[8 October 2018 20:46 · Lucy Anna Gray]

An airbase called Hurlburt Field in Florida is evacuating aircraft to Little Rock, local reports say. 

As Hurricane Michael approaches aircraft will be moved to Arkansas to avoid damage.

[8 October 2018 21:05 · Lucy Anna Gray]

Speaking at a police chiefs' convention in Orlando, Donald Trump addressed Hurricane Michael in his speech. The president said: "As Hurricane Michael nears landfall, we are working with state and local officials in Florida to take all are in precautions and we urge all residents to be prepared and to heed local officials. I told Rick Scott, we are ready for you." Mr Trump added that the hurricane looks like "a very big one."

[8 October 2018 21:24 · Lucy Anna Gray]

It is not just Florida bracing for extreme weather in the coming days. Texas Governor Greg Abbott has said the state is preparing for the impacts of Hurricane Michael. 

“The potential dangers and disastrous effects of flooding cannot be overstated, and Texas is taking action to ensure the safety of our communities,” Mr Abbott said in a statement. “I continue to urge all Texans to heed all emergency warnings from local officials and stay alert to changing weather and road conditions.”

[8 October 2018 21:39 · Lucy Anna Gray]

Mandatory evacuation orders and school closures have been issued in Florida Panhandle as the storm is expected to strength as it heads north. A strong storm surge is expected in the Big Bend area of Florida.

[8 October 2018 21:51 · Lucy Anna Gray]

Mobile homes and low-lying coastal areas in Gulf, Wakulla and Bay counties have all been issued with mandetory evacuations. The Wakulla County Sheriff's Office said no shelters would be open because the county's shelters are rated safe only for hurricanes with top sustained winds below 111mph (178 kph), which is slower than Hurricane Michael is expected to reach.

[8 October 2018 22:05 · Lucy Anna Gray]

Thank you for following our coverage of Hurricane Michael as it heads north towards Florida. We'll be bringing you all the latest on the storm tomorrow.