HURRICANE Michael is the 13th named storm of this years Atlantic Hurricane Season and is bearing down on the Gulf Coast of the United States. When will the dangerous storm hit Florida?

Barreling through the Atlantic Ocean, Hurricane Michael is growing closer to making landfall, bringing with it devastating winds and torrential rain.  Hurricane Michael formed on October 2, becoming more and more organised before being named as Tropical Storm Michael on October 7. Now, Michael has reached hurricane status, packing winds of 100mph.  The weather system has now been upgraded to a category two hurricane according to the latest advisory from the National Hurricane Center (NHC).

The 7am local time (12pm BST) advisory said hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 40 miles from the centre of Michael. A category two hurricane is one that has wind speeds of between 96 to 110 mph and is described as having “extremely dangerous winds” which “will cause extensive damage” according to the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Winds scale.

When will Hurricane Michael hit Florida?

Hurricane Michael is yet to make landfall, having skirted past Cuba on its current path. However, Cuba was still greatly impacted by the storm, as torrential rain and strong winds affected the Caribbean Island. Currently, Michael is approximately 395 miles south of Panama City, Florida and around 365 miles south of Apalachicola, Florida. The weather system is tracking across the Atlantic at a speed of 12mph but may speed up as it approached land.

On its current path, Michael is forecast to make landfall in Florida on Wednesday.

The NHC predicts “the centre of Michael is expected to cross inland over the Florida Panhandle or Florida Big Bend area on Wednesday, and then move northeastward across the southeastern United States Wednesday night and Thursday.”

There are several warnings in place across the Gulf Coast, and they are as follows –

A Storm Surge Warning is in effect for…

• Okaloosa/Walton County Line Florida to Anclote River Florida

A Storm Surge Watch is in effect for…

• Anclote River Florida to Anna Maria Island Florida, including Tampa Bay
• Alabama/Florida border to Okaloosa/Walton County Line Florida

A Hurricane Warning is in effect for…

• Alabama/Florida border to Suwannee River Florida

A Hurricane Watch is in effect for…

• Alabama/Florida border to the Mississippi/Alabama border

A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for…

• Alabama/Florida border to the Mississippi/Alabama border
• Suwanee River Florida to Chassahowitzka Florida

A Tropical Storm Watch is in effect for…

• Chassahowitzka to Anna Maria Island Florida, including Tampa Bay
• Mississippi/Alabama border to the Mouth of the Pearl River
• Fernandina Beach Florida to South Santee River South Carolina