Hurricane Michael made landfall in Florida, US forecasters said on Wednesday.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/hurricane-michael-turns-into-a-category-4-as-florida-braces-for-monster-storm-170631">Also Read:&nbsp;Hurricane Michael turns into a Category 4 as Florida braces for monster storm</a>

"Hurricane Michael has made landfall just northwest of Mexico beach, Florida," the hurricane center said in its latest update.

The National Hurricane Center describing it as a "potentially catastrophic" Category 4 storm.

It&nbsp;is expected to be the worst hurricane in history in the area. Hurricane Michael was carrying winds as high as 150 mph.&nbsp;

The hurricane has already battered Florida Panhandle city of Apalachicola with rain and wind.

Florida Panhandle is located between Alabama and Georgia on a narrow strip of land in Gulf of Mexico. Georgia, Governor Nathan Deal has already declared a state of emergency for 108 counties in the state although mandatory evacuation orders haven't been issued.

However, residents along the coast in Florida have been ordered to leave their homes.&nbsp;

The last major hurricane, a storm of Category 3 or above, to hit the Panhandle was Dennis in 2005, according to hurricane center data.

"Hurricane Michael is forecast to be the most destructive storm to hit the Florida Panhandle in a century," Governor Rick Scott said, adding "along our coast, communities are going to see unimaginable devastation."

The Florida governor said those who hadn't evacuated, it was already too late for them.

"The National Hurricane Center is expecting storm surge to be between nine and 13 feet (2.7-3.6 meters)," he added. "Water will come miles inshore and could easily rise over the roofs of houses," the governor said.

"The time to evacuate the coastal areas has come and gone... Hunker down, and be careful," he said.&nbsp;

The National Hurricane Centre said Hurricane Micahel would bring wind speeds upto 230 kilometers per hour with waves up to 14 feet high. The storm is also expected to bring heavy rainfall to North and South Carolina which is still recovering from Hurricane Florence.

Hurricane Michael made landfall in Florida, US forecasters said on Wednesday. Also Read: Hurricane Michael turns into a Category 4 as Florida braces for monster storm "Hurricane Michael has made landfall just northwest of Mexico beach, Florida," the hurricane center said in its latest update.

Hurricane Michael made landfall in Florida, US forecasters said on Wednesday. Also Read: Hurricane Michael turns into a Category 4 as Florida braces for monster storm "Hurricane Michael has made landfall just northwest of Mexico beach, Florida," the hurricane center said in its latest update. The National Hurricane Center describing it as a "potentially catastrophic" Category 4 storm. It is expected to be the worst hurricane in history in the area. Hurricane Michael was carrying winds as high as 150 mph. The hurricane has already battered Florida Panhandle city of Apalachicola with rain and wind. Florida Panhandle is located between Alabama and Georgia on a narrow strip of land in Gulf of Mexico. Georgia, Governor Nathan Deal has already declared a state of emergency for 108 counties in the state although mandatory evacuation orders haven't been issued. However, residents along the coast in Florida have been ordered to leave their homes. The last major hurricane, a storm of Category 3 or above, to hit the Panhandle was Dennis in 2005, according to hurricane center data. "Hurricane Michael is forecast to be the most destructive storm to hit the Florida Panhandle in a century," Governor Rick Scott said, adding "along our coast, communities are going to see unimaginable devastation." The Florida governor said those who hadn't evacuated, it was already too late for them. "The National Hurricane Center is expecting storm surge to be between nine and 13 feet (2.7-3.6 meters)," he added. "Water will come miles inshore and could easily rise over the roofs of houses," the governor said. "The time to evacuate the coastal areas has come and gone... Hunker down, and be careful," he said. The National Hurricane Centre said Hurricane Micahel would bring wind speeds upto 230 kilometers per hour with waves up to 14 feet high. The storm is also expected to bring heavy rainfall to North and South Carolina which is still recovering from Hurricane Florence.

Hurricane Michael makes landfall in Florida

Hurricane Michael was expected to strengthen on Tuesday in the Gulf of Mexico, taking aim at the Florida Panhandle, where residents were ordered to get out of harm's way ahead of life-threatening waves, winds and rains.

Tens of thousands of people were told to evacuate in Wakulla, Gulf and Bay counties. Michael could be a Category 3 storm when it makes landfall, which is expected on Wednesday, becoming the most powerful storm to strike the Panhandle in at least a decade.

Florida Governor Rick Scott told ABC's "Good Morning America" program on Tuesday that the effects of the storm would not be felt for another 12 hours and warned of the potential deadly impact of what could be a 12-foot (3.7-meter) coastal storm surge.

Asked if there would be more evacuation orders, he said officials were monitoring the situation but that people in potentially affected areas should not take any chances against such a large storm surge.

"No one's going to survive," such a wall of water, Scott said. "Don't take a chance."

Early Tuesday, Michael was a Category 1 storm, with sustained winds of up to 90 miles per hour (150 km per hour), and gaining strength after it skirted Cuba's western tip, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) said.

The storm was forecast to make landfall along a 150-mile (240-km) stretch of the Florida coast with Panama City at the center, according to Refinitiv Eikon data. Residents along more than 300 miles of coastline, from the Alabama/Florida border to the Suwannee River in Florida, have been told to brace for hurricane conditions, forecasters said.

As much as one foot (30 cm) of rain is also forecast across Florida, Georgia and South Carolina, the NHC reported.

It warned that both could trigger deadly flooding, adding that residents within the hurricane warning zone should also "prepare for life-threatening winds."

Scott declared a state of emergency in 35 counties along the Panhandle and Florida's Big Bend regions. About 1,250 National Guard soldiers were assisting and more than 4,000 troops were placed on standby.

"We haven't seen anything like this in the Panhandle for decades," Scott told ABC, adding that water could come miles inland.

Hurricane Michael was expected to strengthen on Tuesday in the Gulf of Mexico, taking aim at the Florida Panhandle, where residents were ordered to get out of harm's way ahead of life-threatening waves, winds and rains.

Hurricane Michael was expected to strengthen on Tuesday in the Gulf of Mexico, taking aim at the Florida Panhandle, where residents were ordered to get out of harm's way ahead of life-threatening waves, winds and rains. Tens of thousands of people were told to evacuate in Wakulla, Gulf and Bay counties. Michael could be a Category 3 storm when it makes landfall, which is expected on Wednesday, becoming the most powerful storm to strike the Panhandle in at least a decade. Florida Governor Rick Scott told ABC's "Good Morning America" program on Tuesday that the effects of the storm would not be felt for another 12 hours and warned of the potential deadly impact of what could be a 12-foot (3.7-meter) coastal storm surge. Asked if there would be more evacuation orders, he said officials were monitoring the situation but that people in potentially affected areas should not take any chances against such a large storm surge. "No one's going to survive," such a wall of water, Scott said. "Don't take a chance." Early Tuesday, Michael was a Category 1 storm, with sustained winds of up to 90 miles per hour (150 km per hour), and gaining strength after it skirted Cuba's western tip, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) said. The storm was forecast to make landfall along a 150-mile (240-km) stretch of the Florida coast with Panama City at the center, according to Refinitiv Eikon data. Residents along more than 300 miles of coastline, from the Alabama/Florida border to the Suwannee River in Florida, have been told to brace for hurricane conditions, forecasters said. As much as one foot (30 cm) of rain is also forecast across Florida, Georgia and South Carolina, the NHC reported. It warned that both could trigger deadly flooding, adding that residents within the hurricane warning zone should also "prepare for life-threatening winds." Scott declared a state of emergency in 35 counties along the Panhandle and Florida's Big Bend regions. About 1,250 National Guard soldiers were assisting and more than 4,000 troops were placed on standby. "We haven't seen anything like this in the Panhandle for decades," Scott told ABC, adding that water could come miles inland.

Hurricane Michael set to bring 12-ft storm surge as it heads for Florida

The President of Mexico&#39;s ruling Institutional Revolutionary Party, or PRI, announced his resignation on Monday, two weeks after the party of President Enrique Pena Nieto suffered a humiliating defeat in regional elections. 
 
Manlio Fabio Beltrones, a former governor and veteran federal lawmaker, announced his decision to step down after the PRI won only five of the dozen governors races up for grabs in the June 5 vote. It previously held nine of them. 
 
The results were far worse for the centrist party than most polls had forecast. 
 
The PRI&#39;s losses included two oil-rich strongholds in the Gulf of Mexico, Veracruz and neighboring Tamaulipas, both of which have been plagued by gang violence for years, as well as Quintana Roo, home to Mexico&#39;s top tourist destination Cancun. All three states have been run by the PRI for over eight decades. 
 
&quot;It&#39;s time for a necessary pause,&quot; Beltrones told a news conference at the PRI&#39;s Mexico City headquarters. 
 
&quot;This is a responsible decision that opens space for an internal debate and allows our party to freely decide the best path forward,&quot; he said. 
 
Beltrones, 63, is still seen as a possible presidential contender for the PRI in 2018. Pena Nieto is not allowed by law to seek a second six-year term. 
 
In a poll published Monday by daily newspaper El Financiero, Beltrones was tied for second with 10 per cent among PRI voters, trailing Interior Minister Miguel Angel Osorio Chong, who had 32 per cent support. 
(Reuters)

Manlio Fabio Beltrones announced his decision after the PRI won only five of the dozen governors races up for grabs in the June 5 vote

The President of Mexico's ruling Institutional Revolutionary Party, or PRI, announced his resignation on Monday, two weeks after the party of President Enrique Pena Nieto suffered a humiliating defeat in regional elections. Manlio Fabio Beltrones, a former governor and veteran federal lawmaker, announced his decision to step down after the PRI won only five of the dozen governors races up for grabs in the June 5 vote. It previously held nine of them. The results were far worse for the centrist party than most polls had forecast. The PRI's losses included two oil-rich strongholds in the Gulf of Mexico, Veracruz and neighboring Tamaulipas, both of which have been plagued by gang violence for years, as well as Quintana Roo, home to Mexico's top tourist destination Cancun. All three states have been run by the PRI for over eight decades. "It's time for a necessary pause," Beltrones told a news conference at the PRI's Mexico City headquarters. "This is a responsible decision that opens space for an internal debate and allows our party to freely decide the best path forward," he said. Beltrones, 63, is still seen as a possible presidential contender for the PRI in 2018. Pena Nieto is not allowed by law to seek a second six-year term. In a poll published Monday by daily newspaper El Financiero, Beltrones was tied for second with 10 per cent among PRI voters, trailing Interior Minister Miguel Angel Osorio Chong, who had 32 per cent support. (Reuters)

Head of Mexico's ruling party resigns after electoral drubbing

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Hurricane Michael makes landfall in Florida

Hurricane Michael set to bring 12-ft storm surge as it heads for Florida

Head of Mexico's ruling party resigns after electoral drubbing