Hurricane Michael became the third-most powerful ever to strike the US mainland and the worst to hit the Florida Panhandel since records began when the barreling winds made landfall on Wednesday.
The ferocious hurricane – now downgraded to a tropical storm – battered the Florida Gulf coast with roof-shredding winds, raging surf and torrential rains before setting its sights on Georgia.
Michael made landfall on Wednesday afternoon near Mexico Beach, about 20 miles (32 km) southeast of Panama City in Florida’s Panhandle region, with top sustained winds reaching 155 miles per hour (249 kph).
The governors of North and South Carolina urged residents to brace for more heavy rain and storm-force winds as Michael plows northward up the Atlantic seaboard.
The Carolinas are still reeling from severe flooding in the aftermath of Hurricane Florence less than a month ago, which killed 50 people.
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Hurricane Michael has so far caused one death on the US mainland.
Follow our live updates on Hurricane Michael below. All times in BST.
8.44am update: Tropical storm winds to linger over Georgia
Tropical storm conditions are hitting areas of central and southeastern Georgia, and will continue to move across portions of eastern Georgia and southern South Carolina this morning.
According to NOAA, “Tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 160 miles (260 km).”
Strong winds have been reported in Georgia and are set to continue with Eastman, Georgia recording a wind gust of 63 mph, McRae, Georgia recording a wind gust of 59 mph, and Sapelo Island, Georgia reporting a wind gust of 45 mph.
Severe rain is also wreaking havoc on land, with Georgia, the Carolinas and Virginia predicted to recieve three to six inches of rain with maximum amounts of eight inches.
To read the NOAA 2am warning, click here
8.30am update: First death in mainland USA reported
Hurricane Michael killed 13 people as it lashed central America with heavy rain and high winds last week.
But after making landfall in Florida on Wednesday, the storm has now claimed its first life – a Florida man, who was killed by a falling tree in Gadsden County.
A woman was hit in the head by a falling tree limb but her condition is not clear.
8.00am update: Exclusive comment on Hurricane Michael
Dr Steven Godby, an expert on natural hazards at Nottingham Trent University, told Express.co.uk: “The coastline where Michael is making landfall has not experienced a storm of this ferocity since reliable records began.
“Not even the oldest residents of the Florida Panhandle will have experienced a storm like this coming ashore here and that may mean that the degree of preparation, including evacuation, among residents is a concern.”