Periods Of Showers And Storms Here; Now A Cat 4 Michael Lashes...

South Florida will see passing showers and a few storms on Wednesday as we watch dangerous Hurricane Michael lash Florida’s panhandle and Big Bend area. Here at home, we’ll see periods of showers on a southerly breeze. Dangerous rip currents will be a hazard all South Florida beaches on Wednesday, and minor coastal flooding at the Gulf coast is likely. Highs on Wednesday will be in the upper 80s.

Showers and storms will move through on Thursday. Thursday’s highs will be near 90 degrees.

Look for passing showers and a few storms on Friday as we continue to be in the moisture “tail” of Michael. Friday’s highs will be in the upper 80s.

Saturday will feature some sun, clouds, and passing showers and storms. Saturday’s highs will be in the upper 80s.

Sunday’s forecast includes periods of sun, clouds, and passing showers and storms. Highs on Sunday will be in the upper 80s.

Michael has intensified into a dangerous Category 4 hurricane. At 5 am Wednesday, Michael was located near 28.3 North, 86.5 West, about 140 miles from Panama City. Maximum sustained winds were 140 miles per hour, and Michael is moving north at 13 miles per hour. This large and powerful hurricane will bring devastating winds and life-threatening storm surge to the panhandle and Big Bend on Wednesday before moving northeastward through Georgia, portions of the Carolinas, and the Chesapeake Bay region on Thursday into Friday. Michael is shaping up to be a major disaster for Florida and the southeast U.S.

Elsewhere, Leslie has regained hurricane strength in the far Atlantic. At 5 am Wednesday, Leslie was located near 28.6 North, 42.6 West, and was moving south at 10 miles per hour. Maximum sustained winds were 75 miles per hour.