The storm hit as a very powerful Category 4 with 155 mph winds.
Hurricane Michael made a dramatic landfall Wednesday afternoon as a fiercer-than-expected Category 4 storm, and the risks are far from over.
After landing near Mexico Beach and Panama City in Florida, Michael continued to move. The storm is expected to enter Georgia early Wednesday evening as a Category 3 or 2, tearing up houses in its path and taking out power for hundreds of thousands of people. There’s still a big inland flooding risk too. As Michael makes its way inland, it will dump rain over Alabama, Georgia, and the Carolinas (which are still recovering from the inundation of Hurricane Florence).
Michael is the most powerful storm ever to hit the Florida Panhandle — with 155 mph winds and 9 to 14 feet of storm surge in some areas — and it shows. Already 200,000 people are without power. As measured by barometric pressure, Michael is one of the most powerful storms to ever make landfall in the US.
Local news reporters, storm chasers, photo journalists, and meteorologists are beginning to share images from the ground on what was left in Michael’s wake. It looks like a tornado hit some of these areas. And the situation will remain dangerous as the storm, which is still a hurricane, pushes inland.
DESTRUCTION. More images of destruction from Mexico Beach, #Florida. #HurricaneMichael is now a Category 3 storm. (via Tessa Talarico) #Hurricane #Michael #Florida pic.twitter.com/Wkayw5RW7v
— Josh Benson (@WFLAJosh) October 10, 2018
Michael is ripping buildings open like tin cans in Panama Beach pic.twitter.com/YxeIsluOeQ
— Brian L Kahn (@blkahn) October 10, 2018
Widespread damage from Hurricane Michael in Panama City, FL. @AMHQ @wunderground @weatherchannel @JimCantore @StevePetyerak pic.twitter.com/8dqqSvRKad
— Charles Peek (@cpeek7) October 10, 2018
Unbelievable damage from #HurricaneMichael in Panama City pic.twitter.com/pMMn14i0Aa
— Stephen Jones (@Tornado_Steejo) October 10, 2018
Complete destruction to the northeastern side of this bank in Panama City, FL. #HurricaneMichael pic.twitter.com/d1eG2ymZVZ
— Jeff Gammons (@StormVisuals) October 10, 2018
This is on the bayou in Destin. This was a backyard. #HurricaneMichael #fcnstorm @FCN2go pic.twitter.com/fjGWiuBvC2
— Heather Crawford (@HeatherFCN) October 10, 2018
Downtown Panama City proper got hit way harder than Panama City Beach. Not shocked as it was hit by the right eyewall. This is catastrophic damage here. @weathernetwork @StormhunterTWN #HurricaneMichael pic.twitter.com/Y7rUyHE7Wj
— Jaclyn Whittal (@jwhittalTWN) October 10, 2018
A few of the photos from Marianna, Fl. These were taken in the middle of eye. When it came through, it sounded like a loud freight train. Prayers for everyone involved with this storm. #HurricaneMichael eye #hurricanemichael pic.twitter.com/KpyrcfdpjW
— Christopher Pipkin ☈ (@MsuPipkin) October 10, 2018
Catastrophic storm surge in Mexico Beach, FL. Video: Tessa Talarco #Michael #flwx pic.twitter.com/DmfEZKC5AZ
— Tyler Eliasen FOX 13 (@FOX13Tyler) October 10, 2018
The structure was obliterated by #HurricaneMichael. This is the most damage I have personally seen from winds in a hurricane. pic.twitter.com/3kwGkmoekj
— Marc Weinberg (@MarcWeinbergWX) October 10, 2018
Author: Brian Resnick