Travel Canada is warning Canadians to avoid all non-essential travel to areas in the US due to a massive approaching storm. The storm has been strengthening and is now a category 2 hurricane named Michael. It could become a category 3 by the time it makes landfall.
READ MORE: Canadians Are Being Advised Not To Travel To These 12 Countries Right Now
Michael's storm surge could be life-threatening. Canadians should not be traveling to the Gulf Coast from the border between Mississippi and Alabama to the Suwanee River in Florida right now as the storm is expected to hit tomorrow.
#HurricaneMichael is closing in on the Florida Panhandle and is forecast to be a "monstrous" Category 3 storm when it makes landfall, officials warn. https://t.co/2WfpSlukQd pic.twitter.com/U5LNA5vcfc
— ABC News (@ABC) October 9, 2018
Emergency officials warn the effects from the storm could be devastating. Michael currently has winds of up to 155 km/h and water surges could be as high as 4 metres in some areas. Damage could result in disruptions to transportation, power, water and food supply, telecommunication networks, emergency services, and medical care.
Residents and visitors who are in the area right now have been told to prepare for life-threatening major hurricane winds. Deadly gusts are expected well inland across the Florida Panhandle, southern Georgia, and southeast Alabama.
LATEST: https://t.co/EnbOpyhmvc
— NBC News (@NBCNews) October 9, 2018
• Hurricane Michael upgraded to Category 2
• Forecast to strengthen to Cat. 3 storm on Wednesday
• "Life-threatening" storm surge expected along coast of Florida Panhandle pic.twitter.com/fMDJfIaF7S
Heavy rainfall is also expected which could produce life-threatening flash flooding from the Florida Panhandle and Big Bend region into portions of Georgia and South Carolina.
READ MORE: A New Advisory Is Warning Canadians To Avoid U.S. Travel, Here's Where
120,000 residents of northwest Florida have been ordered to leave their homes and an evacuation order has been issued for Panama City Beach.
Evacuations kick off as #HurricaneMichael rages towards Florida. The storm is expected to make landfall on Wednesday. https://t.co/g1qXmsHTAv
— Twitter Moments Canada (@CanadaMoments) October 9, 2018
Canadians who are currently in the affected areas are urged to register as abroad with the federal government at this link.
Source: Travel Canada, Twitter