Another major hurricane is due to make landfall in Florida prompting evacuations to be ordered by the Sunshine State.
Hurricane Micheal has been described as “monstrous” and “massive” as it stregthens to a grade 3 storm.
Forecasters are predicting it will become a major hurricane today and should make landfall on Wednesday afternoon or evening local time.
The most likely place the storm is expected to hit is Pensacola in the far western Panhandle and Apalachicola, directly south of Tallahassee on the coast.
Weather Channel hurricane expert Rick Knabb said: “Michael could be one of the worst hurricanes to ever strike the Florida Big Bend and Florida Panhandle region.”
The UK Foreign Office issued the following warning: “Hurricane Michael is forecast to make landfall as a major hurricane when it reaches the northwest Florida Coast overnight on 9/10 October.
“A state of emergency has been declared in Florida and Alabama. You should monitor local and international weather updates and follow the advice of local authorities, including any evacuation orders.”
Michael is the 13th named storm of the season and follows the devastating Hurricane Florence which caused widespread flooding last month.
North Carolina may receive one to three inches of rain which could trigger flash flooding due to the existing level of saturation in the ground from Florence.