MICHAEL NOW A HURRICANE; MORE STRENGTHENING LIKELY… Michael is now a hurricane with maximum sustained winds at 75mph. The overall structure and organization of Hurricane Michael continues to improve this morning. The official forecast from the National Hurricane Center now suggests that Michael will be a major hurricane as it approaches landfall midweek. A Hurricane Watch continues from the Alabama-Florida border eastward to the Suwanee River, including the entirety of the Florida Panhandle. Tropical Storm Watches continues for the entirety of the Alabama coastline.
HURRICANE WATCH FOR NW FLORIDA COUNTIES… The following counties are included in a Hurricane Watch in northwest Florida: Okaloosa, Santa Rosa, and Escambia [FL]. Just to our east, Walton, Bay, Gulf, Franklin, Calhoun [FL], Liberty, Jackson [FL], Washington [FL], and Holmes counties are included in the Hurricane Watch. The reason the hurricane watch has been issued is because hurricane conditions are possible in the next 48 hours, especially at the immediate coastline.
TROPICAL STORM WATCH FOR SOUTH ALABAMA COUNTIES… Mobile, Baldwin, Escambia [AL], Monroe, Conecuh, Butler and Covington counties are all now under a Tropical Storm Watch in our local area. Just to our east, Crenshaw, Coffee, Geneva, Dale, Houston, and Henry counties are involved in the tropical storm watch as well.