Hurricane Michael

Hurricane Michael was a powerful, category five hurricane that brought devastating impacts to the Florida Panhandle on Oct. 7-11, 2018.

Micheal formed on Oct. 2 from the remains of Tropical Storm Kirk in the central and western Caribbean Sea. By Oct. 8, it had strengthened into a tropical storm and passed over Cabo del San Antonio, Cuba.

Wind speeds from Micheal increased to 140 kt, strong enough to designate it a Category 5 storm on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale by the time it made landfall in the Florida Panhandle.

By Oct. 10, Micheal’s wind speeds dropped to 100 kt as the storm passed out of the Florida Panhandle and into Georgia. Micheal continued to loose strength as it passed through North Carolina and Virginia by Oct. 12.

The death toll from Micheal totaled 16: seven deaths in Florida, five of which were drowning, five in Virginia, three in North Carolina and one in Georgia. The worst of Micheal’s damage was reported in Mexico Beach, Florida, where 1,584 out of 1,692 buildings were damaged, and 804 were destroyed. The total occurred damage from Michael totaled $25 billion in the United States.

More information on Hurricane Michael can be found in the National Hurricane’s full report.

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Contributions by: Dakota Smith

Satellite imagery of this event:

Hover over the boxes to play. Click the images to view enlarged

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Hurricane Michael Makes Landfall on the Florida Panhandle

Description:

Hurricane Michael makes landfall as a powerful, major hurricane.


Phenomena: Tropical Cyclones Hurricanes

Satellite: GOES-16

Product: Visible (band 2)

Instrument: ABI

Full Day View of Michael Approaching Florida and Moving Inland

Description:

A full day view of Hurricane Michael approaching Florida, making landfall, and moving inland.


Phenomena: Tropical Cyclones Hurricanes

Satellite: GOES-16

Product: Visible (band 2)

Instrument: ABI

Sunrise on a Menacing Hurricane Michael

Description:

The sunrise on the clear, powerful eye of Hurricane Michael.


Phenomena: Tropical Cyclones Hurricanes

Satellite: GOES-16

Product: Visible (band 2)

Instrument: ABI

Hurricane Michael's Full Journey Across the United States

Description:

Hurricane Michael’s journey from the Gulf of Mexico, across the US, and into the Atlantic Ocean.


Phenomena: Tropical Cyclones Hurricanes Rapid Intensification

Satellite: GOES-16

Product: GeoColor

Instrument: ABI

- October 10, 2018

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