FLORIDA — Hurricane Michael is expected to intensify and is forecast to hit the Florida Panhandle as a Category 3 by midweek. <br />According to CBS News, Florida and Alabama have both declared states of emergency. <br /><br />According to the National Hurricane Center, Michael could strengthen into a Category 3 and higher, meaning it will have sustained winds of over 111 miles per hour, by Tuesday night before making contact with the Panhandle on Wednesday.<br /><br />According to the Weather Channel, this will be due to a combination of favorable upper-level winds and above-average sea-surface temperatures along Michael's path. <br />According to the Weather Channel, storm surge, damaging winds and heavy rains are likely to affect areas along the northeastern Gulf Coast. <br />Storm surge flooding of 8 to 12 feet is expected to occur along the immediate coastline near and east of where the center makes landfall. <br /><br />According to CBS News, Florida Governor Rick Scott has added 700 more Florida National Guards troops to aide in storm preparation and response, bringing the total to well over 1,000.
