Hurricane Michael is expected to smash into the southwestern US states in the next few hours, with widespread chaos and extreme winds on the cards.
Michael is the most recent storm to brew at the height of Atlantic hurricane season, which sees the Atlantic Ocean constantly at the mercy of hurricane-level storms.
Florence was the most recent system to take to the region, pouring out inches of rain over North and South Carolina.
The storm has left many communities still facing displacement following landfall in September, and these same communities are preparing for yet more devastating conditions.
At the moment, Michael is spinning with winds of 110mph – the strongest approaching the US mainland this season.
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The storm is currently 395 miles south of Florida’s Panama City, fiercely moving forward at a speed of 12 mph.
The latest advisory from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) for hurricane Michael states the storm is still strengthening as it heads towards the US.
At its current speed, Michael is set to enter into the into the eastern Gulf of Mexico tonight where it will carry further north, before swooping northwest around the Carolinas.
The NOAA’s National Hurricane Centre (NHC) says the storm will land in Florida as a major hurricane (category 3 or greater on the Saffir-Simpson scale).
Hurricane-force winds of 110mph are projected out 35 miles from the centre and tropical storm-force winds another 185 miles, putting large swathes of the southwestern US in Michael’s path.
Tropical-storm force winds are those ranging from 39 to 73mph, under a category 1 hurricane, which typically exhibits winds of more than 74mph.
Alongside overwhelming winds, Michael is expected to tip down inches of rain throughout Florida and other nearby states.
Rainfall in western Cuba has been comprehensive so far, where already there has been a total of four to eight inches over the country.
The Florida Panhandle is destined for much of the same, likely to receive four to eight inches, up to a foot of water in places.
While the other states of Georgia and the Carolinas are more out of the way than Florida, they are also set for three to six inches.
In all areas receiving a large volume of rain, the NOAA has issued a flash flood warning, which poses a risk to life.
Strong winds and rain also bring with them the threat of a storm surge, which will cause flooding on coastal regions.
At their highest, storm surges will come 12 feet above land along Florida’s India pass to Cedar Key.
There is also a risk of ensuing tornadoes in the Florida Panhandle, the northern Florida Peninsula, and southern Georgia from Wednesday night.
As the storm continues through the mainland, the winds and rain are expected to slowly weaken, making the coastal areas most at risk from initial extreme winds and rain.
Those still recovering from the devastating effects of hurricane Florence will need to take extra care in preparing over the next day.