The center of Hurricane Michael is heading north towards the Florida Panhandle, part of Alabama and most of Georgia, the National Hurricane Center reports.
Michael achieved official hurricane status Monday, with heavy rains forecast for the eastern states that are in its path.
The National Weather Service (NWS) called it a “Dangerous threat for the northeastern gulf” that will bring “heavy rainfall and significant flooding over the plains.”
At this report, Hurricane Michael was located near the southeast Gulf of Mexico and was expected to strengthen until making landfall by Wednesday. NWS cautioned residents in the northeast Gulf Coast region to prepare for multiple hazards, including storm surge, heavy rain and hurricane-force winds. “A powerful storm system will produce excessive rain, flooding, severe weather and mountain snow across the central US through midweek,” NWS added.
UPI said that 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 at a news conference today that, “Michael will bring dangerous storm surge to many areas, even those outside the path,” with water possibly reach the roofs of houses, reported the Wall Street Journal.
Closures Announced
Leon County, Florida school officials announced closures in advance of Hurricane Michael, which is expected to reach the Florida Panhandle, including Tallahassee, by mid-week. Schools will be closed Tuesday morning through at least Thursday. Additionally, Madison County Schools east of Tallahassee is closing Tuesday through Thursday, while Wakulla County Schools southwest of Tallahassee is closing Tuesday through the end of the week.
Other websites that normally post school closings for Georgia and Alabama had yet to make announcements at this writing.
