ORLANDO, Florida — Hurricane Michael now has winds of 90 mph, which is a strong category 1 storm. It is moving through the Gulf of Mexico where there is a better environment for strengthening. 

The latest forecast track does have this system eventually making landfall along the Gulf Coast of Florida, somewhere along the Panhandle to the Big Bend area by Wednesday afternoon.

While the worst of the impacts will stay north and west of Central Florida, this system bears close watching. Regardless of where the center goes, tropical moisture is streaming into Central Florida for squalls of rain and gusty winds.

The center is located 485 miles south of Panama City, Florida. Maximum sustained winds have increased to 90 mph. Hurricane force winds extend outward to 35 miles and tropical storm force winds extend out 175 miles.

The system is moving to the north at 12 mph. The minimum central pressure has dropped to 970 mb.

The following advisories are in effect:

Storm surge warning:

  • Okaloosa/Walton County line Florida Anclote River Florida

Hurricane warning:

  • Alabama/Florida border to Suwannee River, Florida
  • The Cuban province of Pinar del Rio

Tropical storm warning:

  • The Cuban province of the Isle of Youth
  • Suwanee River Florida to Chassahowitzka, Florida
  • Alabama/Florida border to the Mississippi/Alabama border

Storm surge watch:

  • Anclote River, Florida to Anna Maria Island, Florida including Tampa Bay
  • Alabama/Florida Border to Okaloosa/Walton County line Florida

Hurricane watch:

  • Alabama/Florida border to the Mississippi/Alabama border

Tropical storm watch:

  • Chassahowitzka to Anna Maria Island, Florida, including Tampa Bay
  • Mississippi/Alabama border to the mouth of the Pearl River

Rainfall of 4 to 8” is possible in western Cuba, with localized amounts to 12” with similar ranges projected for the Florida Panhandle.  Outer bands affecting the Florida Keys may produce 2 to 4” of rain there.

The system will lift northward through the Gulf of Mexico Tuesday, eventually making landfall along the northern Gulf coast as a category 3 Wednesday. The likelihood of a direct strike in the Florida Panhandle is increasing, it is too early to determine an exact location.

There remains high uncertainty about the possible intensity of the system, but it is very likely that Michael will drag tropical moisture across Florida. This will increase the rain chances across the entire peninsula for the middle of the upcoming week.

Winds will also remain breezy across Central Florida over the next few days, but the worst wind and rain is expected to stay west and northwest of the area.

Leslie and elsewhere

Elsewhere in the tropics, Tropical Storm Leslie continues to meander in the open waters of the Atlantic.

Leslie continues to produce rip currents and large swells across the US east coast, including Florida.

The storm is located about 1050 miles west-southwest of the Azores. This storm does not pose a threat to Florida or the U.S., but large swells will likely continue over the next 2-3 days.

Leslie sustained winds are at 65 mph. It is moving southeast at 14 mph. The minimum central pressure is 983 mb.

Tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 310 miles from the center.

Leslie will continue to move to the southeast over the next several days, taking Leslie across the central and eastern Atlantic. The system will remain a tropical storm for the next several days, but could near hurricane strength on Wednesday or Thursday.

There’s another area with a high chance of development in the next 5 days. This is in the extreme eastern Atlantic and southwest of the Cabo Verde Islands. If this happens, it will be given the name Nadine.

Atlantic hurricane season runs through Nov. 30.