Hurricane Michael was downgraded to a Category 3 hurricane hours after making landfall in the Florida Panhandle on Wednesday. 

Shortly before making landfall near Mexico Beach, Michael intensified and reached maximum wind speeds of up to 155 mph. Hurricanes reach Category 5 when they hit maximum wind speeds of up to 157 mph.

As of 5 p.m., winds have weakened to 125 mph, but life-threatening storm surge and catastrophic winds are expected to continue. The storm is moving north-northeast at 16 mph.

Michael is about 30 miles west of Bainbridge, Georgia. The National Hurricane Center says the storm is approaching extreme southeastern Alabama and southwest Georgia.

The National Hurricane Center says Michael is expected to turn toward the northeast Wednesday afternoon or Wednesday night. The core of Michael is forecast to move inland across the Panhandle and across Alabama and Georgia. It will then move northeastward across the southeastern United States through Thursday night and move off the mid-Atlantic coast away from the United States by Friday.

HERE’S A SUMMARY OF WATCHES AND WARNINGS IN EFFECT:

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:

  • Ocracoke Inlet North Carolina to Duck North Carolina

A Hurricane Warning is in effect for:

  • Okaloosa/Walton County Line to Suwannee River Florida

A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for:

  • North of Fernandina Beach Florida to Duck North Carolina
  • Pamlico and Albemarle Sounds

WHAT OTHERS ARE CLICKING ON:

>>MORE STORIES