Still A Category 1, Hurricane Michael Moving Across Georgia
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MIAMI (CBSMiami) - The eye of Hurricane Michael is moving across Georgia as the storm continues gradually weakening.
At 11 p.m. Michael was located about 45 miles south-southwest of Macon, Georgia.
Michael is moving toward the northeast near 20 mph and this general motion should continue tonight.
A motion toward the northeast at a faster forward speed is expected on Thursday through Friday night.
On the forecast track, the core of Michael will move across southwestern and central Georgia overnight, and move through east-central Georgia Thursday morning.
Michael will then move northeastward across the southeastern United States through late Thursday, and then move off the Mid-Atlantic coast by early Friday.
GALLERY: Damaged Caused By Hurricane Michael In Florida Panhandle
Maximum sustained winds have decreased to near 75 mph with higher gusts.
Michael will steadily weaken as it crosses the southeastern United States through Thursday night, becoming a tropical storm by Thursday morning.
Michael is forecast to re-strengthen some Thursday night and Friday when it moves off the east coast of the United States and becomes a post-tropical cyclone on Friday.
Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 30 miles from the center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 160 miles.
The estimated minimum central pressure is 970 mb.
SUMMARY OF WATCHES AND WARNINGS IN EFFECT:
A Storm Surge Warning is in effect for...
* Panama City Florida to Keaton Beach Florida
A Storm Surge Watch is in effect for...
* Ocracoke Inlet North Carolina to Duck North Carolina
A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for...
* North of Fernandina Beach Florida to Duck North Carolina
* Pamlico and Albemarle Sounds
CLICK HERE TO TRACK HURRICANE MICHAEL
HAZARDS AFFECTING LAND
STORM SURGE: Water levels are beginning to recede in some locations, however, the combination of a dangerous storm surge and the tide will continue to cause normally dry areas near the coast to be flooded by rising waters moving inland from the shoreline.
The water has the potential to reach the following heights above ground if peak surge occurs at the time of high tide...
Panama City FL to Keaton Beach FL...3-5 ft
Sound side of the North Carolina Outer Banks from Ocracoke Inlet to Duck...2-4 ft
WIND: Tropical storm and hurricane conditions are occurring over portions of the Florida Panhandle, southeastern Alabama, and southwestern Georgia and will continue to spread inland over south-central Georgia tonight.
Tropical storm conditions are expected to spread northward within the warning area along the southeast U.S. coast beginning tonight through Friday.
Gale- to storm-force winds are expected over portions of southeastern Virginia, extreme northeastern North Carolina, and the Delmarva Peninsula as Michael becomes post-tropical off the Mid-Atlantic coast late Thursday night or Friday.
RAINFALL: Michael is expected to produce the following rainfall amounts into Friday...
Georgia, the Carolinas, and into Virginia...3 to 6 inches, with isolated maximum amounts of 8 inches. This rainfall could lead to life-threatening flash floods.
Florida...an additional inch of rain is possible as the hurricane moves away from the state eastern Mid-Atlantic, southern New England coast...1 to 3 inches.
TORNADOES: Isolated tornadoes remain possible tonight and Thursday morning from Georgia into the Carolinas.
SURF: Swells generated by Michael will affect the coasts of the eastern, northern, and western Gulf of Mexico through Thursday morning.
These swells are likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions.
Please consult products from your local weather office.
