Michael now post-tropical as it moves out to sea

October 12, 2018

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WCTV) -- Michael was downgraded to post-tropical after impacting areas from Florida's Gulf Coast to New England.

Post-Tropical Cyclone Michael was located 185 miles east-northeast of Norfolk, Va. as of the 5 a.m. advisory from the National Hurricane Center. Maximum sustained winds were at 65 mph, but likely away from the center of the low.

The storm was moving quickly toward the east-northeast at 29 mph. It's expected to keep that general track and move across the northern Atlantic Ocean.

The NHC deemed the low extratropical, meaning that the storm has lost its warm-core tropical characteristics. Strong winds and flooding remained a concern for parts of the New England coastline as the remnants moved through the region Friday morning.

October 11, 2018

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WCTV) -- As of the 2 p.m. advisory from the National Hurricane Center, Tropical Storm Michael had maximum sustained winds of 50 miles per hour.

The storm is located 25 miles south of Greensboro, North Carolina and is moving NE at 23 mph.

Michael has moved out of our area and has now been downgraded to a tropical storm.

As of the 11 a.m. advisory from the National Hurricane Center, Michael had maximum sustained winds of 50 miles per hour. The storm is located 35 miles SSE of Charlotte, North Carolina and is moving NE at 23 mph.

October 10, 2018

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WCTV) -- Hurricane Michael continued to move away from the Big Bend and South Georgia Wednesday night while decreasing in strength.

Maximum sustained winds have decreased to 75 mph according to the 11 p.m. advisory from the National Hurricane Center. The minimum central pressure continues to increase and was at 970 millibars. The storm was rapidly moving northeast at 20 mph.

Conditions will continue to improve Wednesday night into Thursday morning in the viewing area. The southern-most bands were near places like Moultrie and Adel, with a weak rain band from near Jasper southwest to near Steinhatchee. The bands will continue to move northeasterly with the storm.

Lows tonight will be back into the 70s with a mostly cloudy sky with breezy conditions. Some locations Wednesday night could still see some tropical-storm-force gusts. But winds will begin to subside Monday (out of the west at 8 to 15 mph) with highs back into the upper 80s to near 90.

October 10, 2018

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WCTV) -- Hurricane Michael's maximum sustained winds continue to decrease after after making landfall Wednesday afternoon, but it still remains a potent hurricane.

The 5 p.m. EDT advisory from the National Hurricane Center noted maximum sustained winds of 125 mph with a minimum central pressure of 932 millibars. The Pinpoint Weather Team has not seen any reports of sustained winds speeds at that strength as of this update. Michael was moving north-northeastward at 16 mph. Satellite and radar imagery showed the storm nearly halfway between Marianna, Fla. and Donalsonville, Ga.

Satellite imagery has shown warming of the cloud tops near the center of circulation, along with a collapsing eye. This is a sign of some "weakening" as the center of the storm becomes removed from the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico.

Michael is expected to continue a north-northeast to northeasterly trek in the near term as a trough of low pressure and a cold front to the west will be steering this tropical cyclone.

The strongest winds will be over southwestern Georgia. Wind speeds of tropical-storm to hurricane-force are possible. Tropical-storm-force winds are expected for the Big Bend and South-Central Georgia - especially with some of the outer bands.

October 10, 2018

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WCTV) -- Hurricane Michael made landfall just northwest of Mexico Beach with winds of 155 mph.

The minimum central pressure at landfall was 919 millibars.

As of 2 PM, Michael continues to move onshore. Hurricane-force winds are possible in Gulf, Bay, Franklin, Calhoun, and Jackson county.

Even away from the eyewall of Michael, winds can range between 40 and 60 mph is several spots this afternoon.

October 10, 2018

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WCTV) -- The latest on Hurricane Michael:

The latest advisory from the National Hurricane Center shows Hurricane Michael as a Category 4 storm with maximum sustained winds of 145 mph. The storm is located about 60 miles SSW of Panama City, moving NNE at 14 mph.

As the storm approached the Panhandle Wednesday morning, the minimum central pressure continued to fall. Reports show a recent Hurricane Hunter reconnaissance reading of a minimum central pressure of 919.9 millibars.

Conditions will continue to deteriorate over the Big Bend and South Georgia during the afternoon and evening. Southwest Georgia and the western Big Bend could see at least hurricane-force gusts with tropical-storm-force sustained winds likely. The eastern Big Bend and Central Georgia will likely see tropical-storm-force winds.

Storm surge along the coast remains a dangerous threat. A tornado watch also remains in effect until 5 p.m.

WCTV has wall-to-wall coverage as Hurricane Michael nears the region. You can watch live on our Facebook page

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The latest advisory from the National Hurricane Center shows Hurricane Michael as a Category 4 storm with maximum sustained winds of 145 mph. The storm is located about 90 miles SW of Panama City, moving north at 13 mph.

Its center is about 76 miles SW of Apalachicola, Florida.

Rain bands from Michael are already moving through the Big Bend and South Georgia. Expect conditions to continue to deteriorate through the afternoon.

There hasn't been change to the forecast path of the storm. Landfall is expected between noon and 2 pm eastern time.

After landfall, it is expected to increase in forward motion, pushing northeast. Conditions are expected to improve Thursday.

The latest advisory from the National Hurricane Center shows Hurricane Michael as a Category 4 storm with maximum sustained winds of 130 mph. The storm is located about 180 miles SSW of Panama City, moving north at 12 mph.

Satellite imagery is showing Michael's eye wobbling a bit. However, the forecast path remains the same. Landfall is projected to be somewhere west of Apalachicola around Wednesday afternoon. It is forecast to weaken after landfall. By Wednesday night, winds should be significantly weaker around 85 mph near the center of the storm.

Hurricane force winds extend 45 miles away from Michael's center. Tropical storm-force winds extend 175 miles from its center. Tropical storm-force winds of 39-74 mph are possible throughout the entire North Florida and South Georgia viewing area.

Local threats remain the same. Coastal flooding and a 4 to 10 foot storm surge is possible. So far, storm surge will likely be most severe between Mexico Beach and Keaton Beach. Isolated spin-up tornadoes are possible as Michael's rain bands move ashore.

Inland areas could get heavy rain. Flash flooding is possible, mainly in our western counties.

October 9, 2018 - 11 p.m. EDT

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WCTV) -- Hurricane Michael continued to strengthen as Hurricane Hunters found a dropping central barometric pressure near the center of the storm Tuesday night.

The 11 p.m. advisory from the National Hurricane Center reported maximum sustained winds of 125 mph with a minimum central pressure of 947 millibars. The hurricane was still moving north at 12 mph.

Convection near the center became more symmetrical earlier Tuesday evening. The structure still looks similar, but the deep convection decreased a little bit on the southeastern side. Hurricane Hunters did find drier air to the immediate west of Michael. Still, they found the central pressure continuing to drop throughout the evening.

The forecast path remains the same as landfall in or near Panama City looks more likely. After landfall, Michael will continue a northeasterly path through South Georgia potentially as a minimal hurricane.

The official forecast does have Michael becoming a category four hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson scale by Wednesday morning. The NHC noted in their discussion that continued strengthening is likely until landfall.

Hurricane-force winds can be expected in our western areas, and in parts of South Georgia. Tropical-storm-force winds are likely across our viewing area.

Storm surge continues to be a concern. Surge of 8 to 12 feet remains possible along the Big Bend coastline.

Conditions will begin to deteriorate starting Wednesday as the outer rain bands make it to the coast first, and then make their way inland.

October 9, 2018 - 8 p.m. EDT

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WCTV) -- Hurricane Michael remains a major hurricane, according to the 8 p.m. EDT advisory from the National Hurricane Center.

The intermediate advisory had the center of Michael 255 miles south of Panama City. It was moving north at 12 mph. The minimum central pressure has been falling this evening, and was at 953 millibars as of that advisory.

The official forecast from the NHC maintains the thought of it remaining a category three hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson scale maximum sustained winds of 125 mph.

Local impacts to the Big Bend and South Georgia will remain to be wind, storm surge, inland flooding due to heavy rain, and a chance for tornadoes. Winds are expected to be tropical-storm-force for much of of our area with a chance to see hurricane-force sustained in our western areas. Hurricane-force gusts are possible in our western areas and over South Georgia. Storm surge of 8-12 is expected along the Big Bend coastline.

October 9, 2018

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WCTV) – Hurricane Michael was strengthening as the storm aimed for the Florida panhandle Tuesday evening.

Michael was located 270 miles south-southwest of Apalachicola as it was moving northerly at 12 mph as of the 5 p.m. EDT advisory from the National Hurricane Center. Maximum sustained were have increased to 120 mph with a minimum central pressure of 957 mb.

The storm continued to show signs of organization as deep convection develops on the northern side, and on the eastern side. The storm showed an eye on visible satellite imagery, but has since lost it.

Hurricane Hunters were flying through Michael Tuesday evening. The most recent data showed the highest winds on the southeastern corner where some of the deepest convection was located.

The environment remains conducive for additional strengthening during the next 12 to 18 hours, according to the NHC’s 5 p.m. discussion. Shear around the core of the storm appears low as the storm is intensifying. The warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico are aiding in its strengthening.

The ridge of high pressure centered off the Mid Atlantic coast will begin to fade and move and drift eastward. This will allow an upper-level trough positioned near New Mexico and Colorado to begin to steer Michael more northeastward on Wednesday. The forecast has not changed much since the last full advisory at 11 a.m. Tuesday, with guidance models having Michael making landfall near Panama City Wednesday afternoon. But it’s important to note that conditions will deteriorate ahead of the center of circulation. Some of the outer bands may make it to the coast Wednesday morning.

Storm surge, wind, heavy rain and a threat for tornadoes will be the hazards starting Wednesday.

October 9, 2018 - 3:11 p.m.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WCTV) -- The latest on Hurricane Michael:

The 2 p.m. advisory from the National Hurricane Center shows Hurricane Michael as a Category 2 storm with maximum sustained winds of 110 mph. The storm is located about 335 miles south of Panama City and is moving north at 12 mph.

Gov. Rick Scott spoke in Eastpoint this afternoon:

Tuesday afternoon, emergency management officials in Leon County provided an update on the hurricane and local preparations:

The 11 a.m. advisory from the National Hurricane Center shows Hurricane Michael as a Category 2 storm with maximum sustained winds of 110 mph. The storm is located about 360 miles south of Panama City.

Remember that hurricane categories only refer to the wind speed. The effects of Michael will go beyond wind. The storm is moving north at 12 mph.

So far, landfall is expected to be between late Wednesday or during the afternoon. While the center of Michael is forecast to make landfall west of the Apalachicola River, local impacts remain the same.