Hurricane Michael, upgraded to a Category 2 storm early Tuesday, could strengthen to a Category 3 by the time it makes landfall Wednesday on Florida’s panhandle. The storm is forecast to bring damaging winds, heavy rainfall and life-threatening storm surges, with more than 300 miles of Florida’s coastline threatened.
The fast-moving weather system will hit just three weeks after Hurricane Florence battered the Southeast, dumping nearly 36 inches of rain in some spots in North Carolina and causing widespread flooding and wind damage.
While it’s too late for homeowners in Michael’s path to make insurance changes, people in other hurricane-prone areas should take it as a reminder that a future big storm could head straight for them.
The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 to Nov. 30, although the peak season is mid-August to late October. Last year’s three monster storms — Hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria — hit during that period of high storm activity. Combined, they caused $265 billion in damage, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
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