Michael is now a Category 3 Storm
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As of Tuesday night, Hurricane Michael has officially become a major hurricane. The storm was upgraded by the National Hurricane Center as it gathered strength in the Gulf of Mexico. By and large, the predicted path of the storm has not changed. It is still expected to make landfall along the Florida Panhandle on Wednesday in the early afternoon as a major hurricane, and it is expected to bring Tropical Storm conditions to Georgia and the Carolinas after going through northwest Florida, and then go out to sea from there.
The entire Florida Panhandle is under a hurricane warning, as well as the Big Bend area. They are expected to experience winds in excess of 110 miles per hour. A Tropical Storm warning is in effect for coastal Alabama as well as the Nature Coast. Tampa Bay is still under a Tropical Storm Watch.
#Michael is still strengthening and is now almost a dangerous category 4 hurricane. This is a life-threatening event for the northeastern part of the Gulf Coast. Here are the 10 pm CDT Key Messages on October 9th. pic.twitter.com/5bk08CUZSz
— National Hurricane Center (@NHC_Atlantic) October 10, 2018
Between now and landfall, the storm will continue to gather strength in the warmer waters of the Gulf. Michael is still expected to make landfall as a Category 3 Hurricane, but might be as strong as a Category 4 Hurricane by landfall. Several counties in the Panhandle have ordered mandatory evacuations. Please check to see if your county is under evacuation, and what your evacuation routes may be.
Up to 10 feet of storm surge is expected in areas along the Panhandle on Wednesday.
35 counties in Florida remain under a state of emergency, and Governor Rick Scott has suspended tolls on the state’s highways in order to make evacuation easier where it is needed.
The following locations have sandbags for households needing to protect against flooding.
CITRUS COUNTY
- Crystal River Fire Station: 650 NW 3rd Ave, Crystal River, FL 34428
- Self-serve
- Area 1: 4508 S. Grandmarch Ave. Homosassa (Near Grover Cleveland Blvd.)
- Open Monday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. & Tuesday 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.
- Limit of 25 bags per vehicle
- Area 5: 7490 W. Gulf to Lake Hwy. Crystal River (Near Dan’s Clam Stand on opposite side of the road)
- Open Monday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. & Tuesday 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.
- Limit of 25 bags per vehicle
HERNANDO COUNTY
- Anderson Snow Park: 1360 Anderson Snow Road in Spring Hill,
- Open Monday until 6 p.m. & Tuesday from 8 a.m. until 6 p.m.
- Linda Pederson Park: 6300 Shoal Line Boulevard near Hernando Beach
- Open Monday from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. & Tuesday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. (Park will be closed for recreational use during this time)
PASCO COUNTY
- Fire Station #17: 2951 Seven Springs Blvd, New Port Richey
- Self-serve; Open 24 hours a day (Starting at 1 p.m. on Oct. 8)
- Veterans Memorial Park: 14333 Hicks Rd, Hudson
- Self-serve; Open 24 hours a day (Starting at 1 p.m. on Oct. 8)
- Magnolia Valley Golf Course Clubhouse: 7223 Massachusetts Ave, New Port Richey
- Self-serve; Open 24 hours a day
- C-Barn: 30908 Warder Road, San Antonio
- Self-serve; Open 24 hours a day
- Public Works Operations Center: 6132 Pine Hill Rd. (Sandbags) & 6420 Pine Hill Rd (Sand)
- Self-serve; 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- 10 sandbags per household
PINELLAS COUNTY
- Tarpon Springs Splash Park Parking Lot: Live Oak Street at Safford Avenue
- Dodecanese Boulevard at Roosevelt
- Dorsett Park: E. Harrison Street at S. Levis Avenue
- Egan Park: 9101 Blind Pass Rd, St Pete Beach, FL 33706
