MIAMI — Residents of northwest Florida had until early Tuesday to leave their homes ahead of Hurricane Michael, forecast to crash ashore midweek as a major Category 3 storm with "life-threatening" flash flooding possible. Governor Rick Scott’s office said mandatory evacuation orders were in place for parts of Bay County, which includes the popular Panama City beach resort, and areas in nearby Gulf and Franklin counties. "EVERY FAMILY must be prepared. We can rebuild your home, but we cannot rebuild your life," Scott said. The alert came after the tropical storm system strengthened to a Category 1 hurricane, packing maximum sustained winds late Monday of 140 kilometres per hour, the Miami-based National Hurricane Center (NHC) said. By 0001 GMT (Tuesday), Michael was off the western tip of Cuba’s Pinar del Rio province, churning to the north at 19 kilometres per hour, across from Mexico’s Yucatan peninsula. Michael was forecast to push through warm, … [Read more...] about Evacuations ordered as Florida braces for Hurricane Michael
Florida keys hurricane damage
Florida braces for lethal floods as hurricane nears
Florida was warned on Monday (Oct 8) to plan for "life-threatening" flash flooding as Michael heads for the US Gulf Coast, where it is expected to make landfall midweek as a major Category 3 hurricane. Hurricane Michael comes less than a month after Hurricane Florence left dozens dead in the Carolinas. (AFP/Alex Edelman) The alert came as the tropical storm system strengthened to a Category 1 hurricane, packing maximum sustained winds of 120 kilometres per hour, earlier in the day. By 1800 GMT it was nearing the western tip of Cuba, off Mexico's Yucatan peninsula, and was forecast to push through the Gulf of Mexico before moving inland over the northern Gulf Coast of Florida, the Miami-based National Hurricane Centre (NHC) said. Hurricane Michael is expected to bring storm surges and heavy rainfall when it smashes into Florida midweek. (AFP/Tatiana MAGARINOS) It is expected to be a violent Category 3 hurricane - with the power to uproot trees, block roads and knock … [Read more...] about Florida braces for lethal floods as hurricane nears