Pensacola News Journal

Hundreds of thousands of storms are already without power and that number is expected to rise.

Hurricane Michael is the strongest in recorded history to hit the Panhandle

Hurricane Michael made landfall just after noon CT on Wednesday on Florida's Panhandle, a Category 4 storm that smashed records as the strongest ever to roar onto the state's exposed Panhandle.

More than 125,000 homes and businesses already were without power, according to USA TODAY. The number could roll into the millions from the "potentially catastrophic" storm, which was packing sustained winds of 155 mph – just short of Category 5 status.

Hurricane Michael downgraded to Category 3

By late afternoon, the storm’s winds had dropped to 125 mph. The hurricane was centered about 30 miles west of Bainbridge, Georgia, and moving north-northeast at 16 mph, according to USA TODAY.

Hurricane Michael caused widespread damage, with high winds knocking down trees and power lines. Jason Beaman, meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Mobile, said the Pensacola area was spared the worst of Michael. Now Pensacola's biggest threat from Michael will be the rip currents it leaves behind.

More Hurricane Michael coverage

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