Relentless and intensifying as it reached the Florida Panhandle, Hurricane Michael made landfall around 1:40 p.m. on Wednesday near Mexico Beach with wind speeds of 155 mph, bringing a potentially deadly combination of wind, rain and storm surge to the coastal communities in its path.

[GROUND ZERO: See the damage Hurricane Michael inflicted on Mexico Beach]

It is the third-most powerful storm to ever hit Florida.

Calling the storm “devastating” and a “100-year” hurricane, Gov. Rick Scott warned coastal residents Wednesday morning that it was too late to evacuate and they must seek shelter immediately.

Mexico Beach damage

Hurricane Michael made landfall near Mexico Beach on Wednesday afternoon, devastating the coastal town as it lashed the Florida Panhandle. These photos were taken early Thursday morning. [DOUGLAS R. CLIFFORD | Times] [ ZACHARY T. SAMPSON | Douglas R. Clifford ]

Hurricane Michael made landfall near Mexico Beach on Wednesday afternoon, devastating the coastal town as it lashed the Florida Panhandle. These photos were taken early Thursday morning. [DOUGLAS R. CLIFFORD | Times] [ ZACHARY T. SAMPSON | Douglas R. Clifford ]

Hurricane Michael made landfall near Mexico Beach on Wednesday afternoon, devastating the coastal town as it lashed the Florida Panhandle. These photos were taken early Thursday morning. [DOUGLAS R. CLIFFORD | Times] [ ZACHARY T. SAMPSON | Douglas R. Clifford ]

Hurricane Michael made landfall near Mexico Beach on Wednesday afternoon, devastating the coastal town as it lashed the Florida Panhandle. These photos were taken early Thursday morning. [DOUGLAS R. CLIFFORD | Times] [ ZACHARY T. SAMPSON | Douglas R. Clifford ]

Hurricane Michael made landfall near Mexico Beach on Wednesday afternoon, devastating the coastal town as it lashed the Florida Panhandle. These photos were taken early Thursday morning. [DOUGLAS R. CLIFFORD | Times] [ ZACHARY T. SAMPSON | Douglas R. Clifford ]

Hurricane Michael made landfall near Mexico Beach on Wednesday afternoon, devastating the coastal town as it lashed the Florida Panhandle. These photos were taken early Thursday morning. [DOUGLAS R. CLIFFORD | Times] [ ZACHARY T. SAMPSON | Douglas R. Clifford ]

Hurricane Michael made landfall near Mexico Beach on Wednesday afternoon, devastating the coastal town as it lashed the Florida Panhandle. These photos were taken early Thursday morning. [DOUGLAS R. CLIFFORD | Times] [ ZACHARY T. SAMPSON | Douglas R. Clifford ]

Hurricane Michael made landfall near Mexico Beach on Wednesday afternoon, devastating the coastal town as it lashed the Florida Panhandle. These photos were taken early Thursday morning. [DOUGLAS R. CLIFFORD | Times] [ ZACHARY T. SAMPSON | Douglas R. Clifford ]

Hurricane Michael made landfall near Mexico Beach on Wednesday afternoon, devastating the coastal town as it lashed the Florida Panhandle. These photos were taken early Thursday morning. [DOUGLAS R. CLIFFORD | Times] [ ZACHARY T. SAMPSON | Douglas R. Clifford ]

Hurricane Michael made landfall near Mexico Beach on Wednesday afternoon, devastating the coastal town as it lashed the Florida Panhandle. These photos were taken early Thursday morning. [DOUGLAS R. CLIFFORD | Times] [ ZACHARY T. SAMPSON | Douglas R. Clifford ]

Hurricane Michael made landfall near Mexico Beach on Wednesday afternoon, devastating the coastal town as it lashed the Florida Panhandle. These photos were taken early Thursday morning. [DOUGLAS R. CLIFFORD | Times] [ ZACHARY T. SAMPSON | Douglas R. Clifford ]

Hurricane Michael makes landfall

Port St. Joe lodge #111 lay in ruins in the Florida Panhandle on Wednesday (10/10/18) after Hurricane Michael made landfall near Mexico Beach. (Douglas R. Clifford, Times) [ DOUGLAS R. CLIFFORD | AP Photo ]

A marina warehouse is damaged at the Port St. Joe Marina in the Florida Panhandle on Wednesday (10/10/18) after Hurricane Michael made landfall near Mexico Beach. (Douglas R. Clifford, Times) [ DOUGLAS R. CLIFFORD | AP Photo ]

Storm Surge retreats from inland areas, foreground, where boats lay sunk and damaged at the Port St. Joe Marina in the Florida Panhandle on Wednesday (10/10/18) after Hurricane Michael made landfall near Mexico Beach. (Douglas R. Clifford, Times) [ DOUGLAS R. CLIFFORD | AP Photo ]

Boats lay sunk and damaged at the Port St. Joe Marina in the Florida Panhandle on Wednesday (10/10/18) after Hurricane Michael made landfall near Mexico Beach. (Douglas R. Clifford, Times) [ DOUGLAS R. CLIFFORD | AP Photo ]

The Oceanis lay grounded by tidal surge at the Port St. Joe Marina in the Florida Panhandle on Wednesday (10/10/18) after Hurricane Michael made landfall near Mexico Beach. (Douglas R. Clifford, Times) [ DOUGLAS R. CLIFFORD | AP Photo ]

Storm surge floods 20th St in Port St. Joe on Wednesday morning after Hurricane Michael makes landfall in the Florida Panhandle. (Douglas R. Clifford, Times)

Pine trees litter a yard in Port St. Joe on Garrison Avenue on Wednesday afternoon after Hurricane Michael made landfall in the Florida Panhandle. (Douglas R. Clifford, Times)

Port St. Joe Lodge number 111, at right, lay in ruins on Reid Avenue on Wednesday afternoon after Hurricane Michael made landfall in the Florida Panhandle. (Douglas R. Clifford, Times)

Wynell Burke, 84, of Port St. Joe, rests at the shelter in the library at the Port St. Joe High School on Wednesday. Burke, who has lived in the city since she was 8 years old, said she is worried about her home because it is surrounded by pine trees. (Douglas R. Clifford | Times) [ DOUGLAS R. CLIFFORD | TIMES | Douglas R. Clifford | Times ]

The edge of Port St. Joe before #HurricaneMichael. Police making frequent passes of the small city, which sits just west of Apalachicola, straight in the stormÕs path. (Zack Sampson, Times) [ ZACK SAMPSON | TIMES | Zack Sampson | Times ]

This photo made available by NASA shows they eye of Hurricane Michael, as seen from the International Space Station. (NASA via AP) [ AP ]

A woman checks on her vehicle as Hurricane Michael passes through, after the hotel canopy had just collapsed, in Panama City Beach. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert) [ GERALD HERBERT | AP ]

Lesley Padilla, left, with her husband Marco Sanchez, and children, at a Red Cross shelter at Lincoln High School as Hurricane Michael approaches in Tallahassee. The hurricane is expected to be the strongest recorded storm to make landfall on the Florida Panhandle. (Johnny Milano/The New York Times) [ JOHNNY MILANO | NYT ]

People use mobile devices to take photographs of waves ahead of Hurricane Michael in Panama City Beach, Fla., on Wednesday. (Bloomberg photo by Luke Sharrett) [ LUKE SHARRETT | Bloomberg ]

Tampa Bay area spared major damage

Doug Hodgins, left, along with his wife Linda, of Panama City load sand in bags at Linda Pedersen Preserve Wednesday, Oct. 10, 2018 in Weeki Wachee. The couple live on a boat in Panama City and were forced to leave as Hurricane Michael barreled toward the coast. The Hodgins are staying at Doug's brother's home but fear a high tide may later this afternoon may flood the home. (Chris Urso, Times) [ URSO, CHRIS | Tampa Bay Times ]

Homes are seen along Pine Island Wednesday, Oct. 10, 2018 as Hurricane Michael churned toward the Florida Panhandle. (Chris Urso, Times) [ URSO, CHRIS | Tampa Bay Times ]

Albert Yates, 79, takes a phone call as he stands on the balcony of his home along Sanddollar Point Wednesday, Oct. 10, 2018 in Ozello. The low lying area has been prone to flooding in the past and most residents have already evacuated. Yates, a retired builder imported Brazilian walnut -- 'iron wood,' he said, so hard you can't nail into it, only drill. From it he constructed his 13.5-foot high, Category 4 hurricane-rated home, with pylons that go five feet into bedrock. (Chris Urso, Times) [ URSO, CHRIS | Tampa Bay Times ]

Peck's Old Port Cove seafood restaurant, center, is seen from the balcony of Albert Yates home along Sanddollar Point Wednesday, Oct. 10, 2018 in Ozello. The low lying area has been prone to flooding in the past and most residents have already evacuated. (Chris Urso, Times) [ URSO, CHRIS | Tampa Bay Times ]

A sheriff's deputy drives along a narrow causeway Wednesday, Oct. 10, 2018 in Ozello. The low lying area has been prone to flooding in the past and most residents have already evacuated. As Hurricane Michael headed toward the Florida panhandle Cystal River residents who live along the coast expect high water during the next tide cycle. (Chris Urso, Times) [ URSO, CHRIS | Tampa Bay Times ]

Levy County deputy Arthur Oubre, right, speaks with deputy J.J. Roe, along Florida SR 24 near Cedar Key Wednesday, Oct. 10, 2018. A combination of rising water from high tide and an expected storm surge from Hurricane Michael forced deputies to close the road. (Chris Urso, Times) [ URSO, CHRIS | Tampa Bay Times ]

High tide from offshore hurricane Michael creeps up into the Sponge Docks in Tarpon Springs Wednesday afternoon 10/10/2018 after the Anclote River backs up. (Jim Damaske, Times) [ JIM DAMASKE | Jim Damaske ]

High tide from offshore hurricane Michael creeps up into the Sponge Docks in Tarpon Springs Wednesday afternoon 10/10/2018 after the Anclote River backs up. (Jim Damaske, Times) [ JIM DAMASKE | Jim Damaske ]

High tide from offshore hurricane Michael creeps up into the Sponge Docks in Tarpon Springs Wednesday afternoon 10/10/2018 after the Anclote River backs up. (Jim Damaske, Times) [ JIM DAMASKE | Jim Damaske ]

Waves crash against the Courtney Campbell Causeway Wednesday afternoon 10/10/18 from hurricane Michael which was approaching the panhandle. (Jim Damaske, Times) [ JIM DAMASKE | Jim Damaske ]

The warning sign heading over the bridge onto Shore Acres inSt. Petersburg before high tide as Hurricane Michael passing offshore as it head to the Florida panhandle on Wednesday. (Dirk Shadd, Times) [ SHADD, DIRK | Tampa Bay Times ]

A look at the sea wall and docks on Shore Acres in St. Petersburg before high tide as Hurricane Michael passing offshore as it head to the Florida panhandle on Wednesday. (Dirk Shadd, Times) [ SHADD, DIRK | Tampa Bay Times ]

With the Sunshine Skyway bridge in the background, Jose Macera, 47, and Addison Latimer, 45, ride the waves and high winds from Hurricane Michael while on their 26ft house boat anchored near the shore in St. Petersburg Wednesday. "We didn't stay on it last night, we stayed in the car. We were kinda nervous," Macera said. "It's a little rough. We just bought it a month ago and I don't want it to go down already.' (Dirk Shadd, Times) [ SHADD, DIRK | Tampa Bay Times ]





As high tide approaches, streets begin to flood due to Hurricane Michael in the Shore Acres neighborhood of St. Petersburg Wednesday afternoon. (Dirk Shadd, Times) [ SHADD, DIRK | Tampa Bay Times ]

Beach visitors navigate the high tide waters on Pass-A-Grille Beach, St. Pete Beach, Wednesday, 10/10/18 as Hurricane Michael pushed water and foam onto the beach. (Scott Keeler, Times) [ SCOTT KEELER | Tampa Bay Times ]

Farjana Akther, St. Petersburg, records high waves with her smart phone during high tide at Pass-A-Grille Beach, St. Pete Beach, Wednesday, 10/10/18. Hurricane Michael sent water over the seawall. (Scott Keeler, Times) [ SCOTT KEELER | Tampa Bay Times ]

The low lying area of Ozello begins to flood toward a road on Wednesday, October 10, 2018. The area has been prone to flooding in the past. Most residents have already left in preparation for Hurricane Michael, a category 4, which was announced to have made landfall at 2 p.m. outside of Panama City. (Bronte Wittpenn, Times) [ BRONTE WITTPENN | TIMES ]

The low lying area of Ozello begins to flood on Wednesday, October 10, 2018. The area has been prone to flooding in the past. Most residents have already left in preparation for Hurricane Michael, a category 4, which was announced to have made landfall at 2 p.m. outside of Panama City. (Bronte Wittpenn, Times) [ BRONTE WITTPENN | TIMES ]

Palm trees blow in the wind from Hurricane Michael during Tampa Bay Buccaneers practice on October 10, 2018 at One Buc Place in Tampa, Fla. (Monica Herndon, Times) [ MONICA HERNDON | Tampa Bay Times ]

While the panhandle is taking the brunt of Hurricane Michael, Bayshore Blvd. in Tampa is experiencing some flooding from a choppy Tampa Bay which is more than 300 miles from where the storm's eye made landfall. (James Borchuck, Times) [ BORCHUCK, JAMES | Tampa Bay Times ]

Tampa resident Joe Vandello takes a video of Tampa Bay on Bayshore Blvd. during high tide Wednesday, Oct. 10, 2018. While the panhandle is taking the brunt of Hurricane Michael, Bayshore Blvd. in Tampa is experiencing some flooding from a choppy Tampa Bay which is more than 300 miles from where the storm's eye made landfall. (James Borchuck, Times) [ BORCHUCK, JAMES | Tampa Bay Times ]

A car makes it way down S. Bayside Drive through flooding at high tide, resulting from Hurricane Michael. The storm made landfall in Mexico Beach, on the Florida panhandle earlier on Wednesday. (Monica Herndon, Times) [ MONICA HERNDON | Tampa Bay Times ]

Street flooding is seen on S. Bayside Drive at high tide, resulting from Hurricane Michael on October 10, 2018 in Tampa, Fla. The storm made landfall in Mexico Beach, on the Florida panhandle earlier on Wednesday. (Monica Herndon, Times) [ MONICA HERNDON | Tampa Bay Times ]

Street flooding is seen on S. Bayside Drive at high tide, resulting from Hurricane Michael on October 10, 2018 in Tampa, Fla. The storm made landfall in Mexico Beach, on the Florida panhandle earlier on Wednesday. (Monica Herndon, Times) [ MONICA HERNDON | Tampa Bay Times ]





A man walks in front of Cedar Key Pizza on 2nd Street where flood waters from high tide and a surge from Hurricane Michael submerge an intersection in Cedar Key on Wednesday, October 10, 2018. Hurricane Michael, a category four hurricane, made landfall on near Mexico Beach this afternoon. (Bronte Wittpenn, Times) [ BRONTE WITTPENN | TIMES ]

Water surrounds a home Wednesday, Oct. 10, 2018 in Cedar Key. A combined high tide and storm surge from Hurricane Michael pushed water into the low lying streets of small town Wednesday. Hurricane Michael first made landfall near Mexico Beach in the panhandle area of Florida as a catastrophic Category 5 hurricane. (Chris Urso, Times) [ URSO, CHRIS | Tampa Bay Times ]

Businesses and homes are seen near Dock Street as clouds break Wednesday, Oct. 10, 2018 in Cedar Key. A combined high tide and storm surge from Hurricane Michael pushed water into the low lying streets of small town Wednesday. Hurricane Michael first made landfall near Mexico Beach in the panhandle area of Florida as a catastrophic Category 5 hurricane. (Chris Urso, Times) [ URSO, CHRIS | Tampa Bay Times ]

Gregg, 67, along with his wife Kathleen, 57, walk their dog Cooper along an empty C Street as clouds break Wednesday, Oct. 10, 2018 in Cedar Key. A combined high tide and storm surge from Hurricane Michael pushed water into the low lying streets of small town Wednesday. Hurricane Michael first made landfall near Mexico Beach in the panhandle area of Florida as a catastrophic Category 5 hurricane. (Chris Urso, Times) [ URSO, CHRIS | Tampa Bay Times ]