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| Hurricane Michael: 'Monstrous' storm set to hit Florida | Hurricane Michael: 'Monstrous' storm set to hit Florida |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Powerful Hurricane Michael is set to make landfall in Florida later on Wednesday, forcing mass evacuations in the southern US state. | Powerful Hurricane Michael is set to make landfall in Florida later on Wednesday, forcing mass evacuations in the southern US state. |
| A category three storm with winds near 125mph (201km/h), Michael is expected to strengthen further when it hits the Florida Panhandle or Florida Big Bend in the north-west, meteorologists warn. | |
| More than 370,000 people have been ordered to evacuate in Florida. | More than 370,000 people have been ordered to evacuate in Florida. |
| Florida, Alabama and Georgia have declared states of emergency. | Florida, Alabama and Georgia have declared states of emergency. |
| At least 13 people have reportedly died in Central America due to the storm. | At least 13 people have reportedly died in Central America due to the storm. |
| What are the latest developments? | What are the latest developments? |
| In its bulletin, the Miami-based National Hurricane Center (NHC) said: "Some further strengthening is expected overnight and on Wednesday, and Michael is forecast to become a category four hurricane before it makes landfall." | |
| The NHC warns that some regions of Florida may see storm surges of up to 12ft (4m). | The NHC warns that some regions of Florida may see storm surges of up to 12ft (4m). |
| It said that at 03:00 GMT on Wednesday, the eye of the storm was about 220 miles south-west of Panama City, Florida. | |
| Michael is currently moving northwards at 12mph. | Michael is currently moving northwards at 12mph. |
| "Weakening is expected after landfall as Michael moves across the south-eastern United States," the NHC added. | "Weakening is expected after landfall as Michael moves across the south-eastern United States," the NHC added. |
| Florida Governor Rick Scott called Michael "a monstrous storm" and urged residents to listen to officials. | Florida Governor Rick Scott called Michael "a monstrous storm" and urged residents to listen to officials. |
| "Let me be clear - the storm surge that our coastal counties are facing is deadly," the governor tweeted. | "Let me be clear - the storm surge that our coastal counties are facing is deadly," the governor tweeted. |
| "Do not ignore warning from local officials - this storm could kill you. We can rebuild your house, we cannot rebuild your life." | "Do not ignore warning from local officials - this storm could kill you. We can rebuild your house, we cannot rebuild your life." |
| Despite the warnings, local officials believe a far fewer number of people have in fact moved away. | Despite the warnings, local officials believe a far fewer number of people have in fact moved away. |
| Schools and state offices in the area are to remain shut this week. | Schools and state offices in the area are to remain shut this week. |
| On Tuesday, Gov Scott said he activated 2,500 Florida National Guard troops in preparation for the storm. | On Tuesday, Gov Scott said he activated 2,500 Florida National Guard troops in preparation for the storm. |
| Heavy rains are forecast for the Carolinas, which were drenched by Hurricane Florence last month. | Heavy rains are forecast for the Carolinas, which were drenched by Hurricane Florence last month. |
| North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper told residents: "I know people are fatigued from Florence, but don't let this storm catch you with your guard down." | North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper told residents: "I know people are fatigued from Florence, but don't let this storm catch you with your guard down." |
| More than 300 miles of coastline are currently under threat, the National Weather Service has said. | More than 300 miles of coastline are currently under threat, the National Weather Service has said. |
| Forecasters in Alabama warned of possible tornados. | Forecasters in Alabama warned of possible tornados. |
| President Donald Trump told reporters on Tuesday: "We are very well prepared for the incoming hurricane." | President Donald Trump told reporters on Tuesday: "We are very well prepared for the incoming hurricane." |
| Residents face frightening ordeal | Residents face frightening ordeal |
| By BBC's Gary ODonoghue in Florida | By BBC's Gary ODonoghue in Florida |
| Adrian Mahangos hopes he is one of the lucky ones. | Adrian Mahangos hopes he is one of the lucky ones. |
| Sitting outside his home, reading a magazine, less than 100 yards from the water's edge in Wynnehaven, he knows Hurricane Michael is now due to make landfall 50 or 60 miles to his east. | Sitting outside his home, reading a magazine, less than 100 yards from the water's edge in Wynnehaven, he knows Hurricane Michael is now due to make landfall 50 or 60 miles to his east. |
| Mr Mahangos is not going anywhere. | Mr Mahangos is not going anywhere. |
| His house is 11ft above sea level, and if the 4ft-surge predicted for this part of the coast goes no higher, then he's confident his newly-built home will survive. | His house is 11ft above sea level, and if the 4ft-surge predicted for this part of the coast goes no higher, then he's confident his newly-built home will survive. |
| Just an hour along the coast, it's different. | Just an hour along the coast, it's different. |
| The aptly named Lullwater Beach, just west of Panama City Beach, is quiet at the moment, but this whole stretch is looking a possible surge of up to 13ft. | The aptly named Lullwater Beach, just west of Panama City Beach, is quiet at the moment, but this whole stretch is looking a possible surge of up to 13ft. |
| A man in the distance is gathering sand from the beach while it's still light, and pouring it into trash bags - making do with what's at hand to protect from the water. | A man in the distance is gathering sand from the beach while it's still light, and pouring it into trash bags - making do with what's at hand to protect from the water. |
| Local officials are warning that not nearly enough people have evacuated as they would wish. | Local officials are warning that not nearly enough people have evacuated as they would wish. |
| Florida is used to storms, but the Panhandle, with its low-lying coastal strip and scattered communities, hasn't seen anything this strong for more than a dozen years. | Florida is used to storms, but the Panhandle, with its low-lying coastal strip and scattered communities, hasn't seen anything this strong for more than a dozen years. |
| Those that remain will be facing a frightening ordeal. | Those that remain will be facing a frightening ordeal. |
| Where has Hurricane Michael hit so far? | Where has Hurricane Michael hit so far? |
| The storm caused widespread destruction in Central America over the weekend, where at least 13 people have been reported dead. | The storm caused widespread destruction in Central America over the weekend, where at least 13 people have been reported dead. |
| According to the Associated Press, six people were killed in Honduras, four in Nicaragua and three in El Salvador. | According to the Associated Press, six people were killed in Honduras, four in Nicaragua and three in El Salvador. |
| Images on social media showed evacuating families wading through water to get to safety. | Images on social media showed evacuating families wading through water to get to safety. |
| Parts of western Cuba, which was hit by the storm on Monday, were forecast to receive up to a foot of rain. | Parts of western Cuba, which was hit by the storm on Monday, were forecast to receive up to a foot of rain. |
| Offshore oil platforms in the Gulf of Mexico have evacuated workers, halting nearly a fifth of daily production. | Offshore oil platforms in the Gulf of Mexico have evacuated workers, halting nearly a fifth of daily production. |
| Five drilling rigs have been moved out of the storm's path, according to the US Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement. | Five drilling rigs have been moved out of the storm's path, according to the US Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement. |