Hurricane Michael makes LANDFALL in Florida – ‘Too LATE to evacuate – seek shelter NOW’

The hurricane, which took Americans by surprise with its rapid intensification as it churned north over the Gulf of Mexico, made landfall moments ago with the Category 4 storm expected to drive sea water levels as high as 14 feet (4.3 meters) above normal in some areas, according to the Hurricane Centre.

The beast is currently whipping at trees and tugging them from their roots as well as causing flooding in the town of Apalachicola, where more than five feet (1.5 meters) of water has so far been reported there and in Port St. Joe.

Port St. Joe Mayor Bo Patterson said: “It feels like you don’t know when the next tree is going to fall on top of you because its blowing so ferociously.”

Governor Rick Scott said earlier: “The time for evacuating along the coast has come and gone. First responders will not be able to come out in the middle of the storm. If you chose to stay in an evacuation zone, you must SEEK REFUGE IMMEDIATELY.”

The storm will turn towards the northeast later this afternoon or tonight local time.

Tomorrow through to Friday night, Michael will then turn towards the northeast at a faster forward speed.

Michael should weaken as it crosses the southeastern US.

On Friday, Michael is forecast to become a post-tropical cyclone, with further strengthening forecast as the system moves over the western Atlantic.