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Hurricane Michael: Major Storm Bears Down on Florida Panhandle Hurricane Michael: Major Storm Bears Down on Florida Panhandle
(35 minutes later)
Hurricane Michael raced toward the Florida Panhandle on Tuesday, threatening to bring the ferocious rains and winds of a powerful tropical cyclone to the coast and hundreds of miles inland.Hurricane Michael raced toward the Florida Panhandle on Tuesday, threatening to bring the ferocious rains and winds of a powerful tropical cyclone to the coast and hundreds of miles inland.
As of 2 a.m. Tuesday, the National Hurricane Center said that the hurricane had maximum sustained winds of 90 miles per hour and was moving north-northwest at 12 m.p.h. from an offshore position near Cuba’s western tip.As of 2 a.m. Tuesday, the National Hurricane Center said that the hurricane had maximum sustained winds of 90 miles per hour and was moving north-northwest at 12 m.p.h. from an offshore position near Cuba’s western tip.
The storm is expected to make landfall over the Panhandle on Wednesday and could be classified as a major hurricane, with wind speeds of at least 111 m.p.h. As of early Tuesday, a hurricane warning was in effect for a western Cuban province and portions of the Gulf Coast.The storm is expected to make landfall over the Panhandle on Wednesday and could be classified as a major hurricane, with wind speeds of at least 111 m.p.h. As of early Tuesday, a hurricane warning was in effect for a western Cuban province and portions of the Gulf Coast.
Beyond wind speeds, the authorities said they feared torrential rains and perhaps 12 feet of storm surge. In an area that just two years earlier saw tremendous electrical disruptions from Hurricane Hermine, public officials and power companies face enormous pressure to keep the lights on, or restore service quickly.Beyond wind speeds, the authorities said they feared torrential rains and perhaps 12 feet of storm surge. In an area that just two years earlier saw tremendous electrical disruptions from Hurricane Hermine, public officials and power companies face enormous pressure to keep the lights on, or restore service quickly.
Some counties have issued evacuation orders, and shelters have been opened in some communities.Some counties have issued evacuation orders, and shelters have been opened in some communities.
Here are the latest developments:Here are the latest developments:
• A hurricane warning was in effect from the Alabama-Florida border to the Suwannee River in Florida, as well as in Pinar del Rio Province in western Cuba.• A hurricane warning was in effect from the Alabama-Florida border to the Suwannee River in Florida, as well as in Pinar del Rio Province in western Cuba.
• A hurricane watch was in effect from the Alabama-Florida border to the Mississippi-Alabama border.• A hurricane watch was in effect from the Alabama-Florida border to the Mississippi-Alabama border.
• Hurricane Michael could make landfall on Wednesday anywhere from Destin, Fla., to Apalachee Bay, the National Hurricane Center said. It was projected then to veer northeast — through Georgia and the Carolinas — before heading into the Atlantic on Thursday night.• Hurricane Michael could make landfall on Wednesday anywhere from Destin, Fla., to Apalachee Bay, the National Hurricane Center said. It was projected then to veer northeast — through Georgia and the Carolinas — before heading into the Atlantic on Thursday night.
• Michael could hit Florida as a Category 3 storm, after being upgraded first from a tropical storm, then a Category 1 hurricane. Here’s our guide to how hurricanes are classified and why a change in category doesn’t tell the whole story. • The hurricane could hit Florida as a Category 3 storm, after being upgraded several times. Here’s our guide to how hurricanes are classified and why a change in category doesn’t tell the whole story.
• Gov. Rick Scott of Florida, who is running for the Senate, left the campaign trail on Sunday to focus on storm preparations. He said that Hurricane Michael “will be life-threatening and extremely dangerous,” and warned that some areas could receive up to a foot of rain. • Gov. Rick Scott of Florida, who is running for the Senate, left the campaign trail on Sunday to focus on storm preparations. He said that the hurricane “will be life-threatening and extremely dangerous,” and warned that some areas could receive up to a foot of rain.
• Mr. Scott declared a state of emergency on Sunday in 26 Florida counties. On Monday, he expanded his declaration to 35 counties and asked President Trump for federal assistance.• Mr. Scott declared a state of emergency on Sunday in 26 Florida counties. On Monday, he expanded his declaration to 35 counties and asked President Trump for federal assistance.
• Mr. Trump on Monday said the Federal Emergency Management Agency was in full preparation mode. “It looked a couple of days ago like it was not going to be much,” he said of the storm, “and now it’s looking like it could be a very big one, so we’re prepared, and good luck.”• Mr. Trump on Monday said the Federal Emergency Management Agency was in full preparation mode. “It looked a couple of days ago like it was not going to be much,” he said of the storm, “and now it’s looking like it could be a very big one, so we’re prepared, and good luck.”
• Gas, generators and other emergency supplies were reported sold out in many places, The Tallahassee Democrat reported.• Gas, generators and other emergency supplies were reported sold out in many places, The Tallahassee Democrat reported.
• Florida State University said it would close Tuesday and did not expect to resume normal operations until Monday. The Florida Supreme Court and state offices in several counties were also scheduled to close from Tuesday through Thursday.• Florida State University said it would close Tuesday and did not expect to resume normal operations until Monday. The Florida Supreme Court and state offices in several counties were also scheduled to close from Tuesday through Thursday.
• Schools in Leon County announced they would close for the remainder of the week, and evacuation centers and shelters there were scheduled to open at noon on Tuesday.• Schools in Leon County announced they would close for the remainder of the week, and evacuation centers and shelters there were scheduled to open at noon on Tuesday.
• Does it seem as if severe storms keep damaging the same areas, and those areas are simply built up again? Part of that is the way disaster funding works. Read about it here.• Does it seem as if severe storms keep damaging the same areas, and those areas are simply built up again? Part of that is the way disaster funding works. Read about it here.
• Follow New York Times journalists on the scene: Patricia Mazzei in Tallahassee, Richard Faussett in Panama City and Alan Blinder in Atlanta.• Follow New York Times journalists on the scene: Patricia Mazzei in Tallahassee, Richard Faussett in Panama City and Alan Blinder in Atlanta.
Click on the map below to see the storm’s projected path:Click on the map below to see the storm’s projected path:
Hurricanes are not new, but in many ways, climate change has made them worse: A rise in sea level is causing higher storm surges, and warmer air is leading to rainier storms. In many ways, climate change has made hurricanes worse: A rise in sea level is causing higher storm surges, and warmer air is leading to rainier storms.
With Hurricane Michael, local geography also has a role to play in the storm’s impact.With Hurricane Michael, local geography also has a role to play in the storm’s impact.
If the predictions of the storm’s path hold, Michael will be the first storm to hit this area since Hurricane Hermine in 2016, said Jamie Rhome, a storm surge specialist at the National Hurricane Center. That storm was a Category 1. Hurricane Michael is expected to strike land as a Category 3, a major storm with wind speeds of 111 to 129 m.p.h. That’s enough to uproot trees and tear off roof decking. If the predictions of its path hold, the hurricane will be the first to hit this area since Hurricane Hermine in 2016, said Jamie Rhome, a storm surge specialist at the National Hurricane Center. That storm was a Category 1. Hurricane Michael is expected to strike land as a Category 3, a major storm with wind speeds of 111 to 129 m.p.h. That’s enough to uproot trees and tear off roof decking.
Wind, while a source of destruction in storms, is not the only threat. Surge can devastate coastal communities, and the rain dumped by storms can cause flooding far inland. Mr. Rhome noted that while Michael’s path was still not certain, its probable impact at the bend of Florida on the way into the Panhandle could be very destructive. “It’s an incredibly vulnerable spot,” he said. “Regardless of whether the track moves a little to the left or the right, or wobbles,” he said, “it’s going to be a bad storm surge event for somebody.” Wind, while a source of destruction in storms, is not the only threat. Surge can devastate coastal communities, and the rain dumped by storms can cause flooding far inland. Mr. Rhome noted that while this hurricane’s path was still not certain, its probable impact at the bend of Florida on the way into the Panhandle could be very destructive. “It’s an incredibly vulnerable spot,” he said. “Regardless of whether the track moves a little to the left or the right, or wobbles,” he said, “it’s going to be a bad storm surge event for somebody.”
Rick Luettich, director of the Institute of Marine Sciences at the University of North Carolina, said that the area was especially susceptible to a large storm surge because of its “funnel-shaped geometry and broad, shallow continental shelf.”Rick Luettich, director of the Institute of Marine Sciences at the University of North Carolina, said that the area was especially susceptible to a large storm surge because of its “funnel-shaped geometry and broad, shallow continental shelf.”
If there is good news, he said it’s that the area of possible impact “is not as densely populated as other parts of the Gulf Coast, and therefore the human consequences of such a large surge should be less severe than if it hit further west on the Florida Panhandle or further east,” in say, Tampa.If there is good news, he said it’s that the area of possible impact “is not as densely populated as other parts of the Gulf Coast, and therefore the human consequences of such a large surge should be less severe than if it hit further west on the Florida Panhandle or further east,” in say, Tampa.