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Hurricane Michael intensifies

Posted at 6:47 AM, Oct 09, 2018
and last updated 2018-10-09 08:47:30-04

Hurricane Michael is threatening more than 300 miles of the Gulf Coast, prompting emergency declarations in more than 100 counties from Mobile, Alabama through the Florida Panhandle and into the state’s Big Bend region.

Residents in those areas are being warned to prepare for Michael to make landfall Wednesday as a “dangerous major hurricane,” bringing damaging winds, and life-threatening storm surge and flash flooding. Hurricane Michael isn’t heading to any one town. There are warnings for more than 300 miles of coastline.

It’s forecast to be a large and dangerous hurricane at landfall. The National Hurricane Center said Michael could reach land as a Category 3 hurricane, with maximum sustained winds of at least 111 mph. Storms with winds of at least 111 mph are designated as “major” hurricanes.

As of 3 a.m., Michael’s center was about 420 miles south of Panama City, Florida and 390 miles south of Apalachicola, Florida.