Hurricane Michael forecast: What to expect and when

ABC NEWS – Hurricane Michael — a Category 4 hurricane — churned toward the Florida Panhandle early Wednesday as the state and its neighbors braced for the impact. The National Hurricane Center on Wednesday said the Category 4 storm is expected to move ashore over the Florida Panhandle on Wednesday afternoon, becoming the strongest hurricane in recorded history to hit the region. Forecasters said parts of the Panhandle and Florida's marshy, lightly populated Big Bend area — the crook of Florida's elbow — could see 9 to 13 feet (2.7 to 4 meters) of storm surge. Here is what to expect and when

— As of the National Weather Service’s 5 a.m. update, Michael was 140 miles south-southwest of Panama City, Florida, but outer bands were already starting to deliver rain. By 8 a.m. Tuesday, top winds had reached 100 mph (155 kph), and it was forecast to strengthen into a “major” Category 3 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of more than 111 mph (179 kph).
Hurricane Michael strengthens to a category 2 storm with 110 mph winds as it continues to ascend through the Florida Panhandle.