Michael Forecasted To Reach Near Category 4 By Landfall - US National Hurricane Center

Fakhir Rizvi Published October 10, 2018 | 06:09 AM

WASHINGTON (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 10th October, 2018) Hurricane Michael is now predicted to reach a level close to category 4 when it hits the US state of Florida on Wednesday, the National Hurricane Center in Miami (NHC) said in an advisory.

"Strengthening is expected overnight and on Wednesday, and Michael is forecast to be near category 4 strength when it makes landfall in the Florida Panhandle or the Florida Big Bend area," the advisory said on Tuesday.

The eye of the hurricane, the release added, is expected to move inland over Florida on Wednesday before heading northeastward and possibly moving off the US Mid-Atlantic coast and away from the United States on Friday.

Earlier in the day the NHC said the storm had intensified to a category 2. Florida authorities said they expected Michael to hit the state as a category 3.

Michael, which emerged in the Mexican Gulf, hit Honduras, Nicaragua and El Salvador on Monday and has reportedly claimed the lives of at least 13 people.