Hurricane Michael's forecast track shifted slightly west late Monday, putting beach areas along Scenic Highway 30 in Walton County, including Seaside, Watercolor and Rosemary Beach into mandatory evacuation, and parts of Okaloosa County, including Destin, into voluntary evacuation orders. Hurricane warnings are also posted for the region.
The latest National Hurricane Center path forecast shows Hurricane Michael making landfall between Panama City Beach in Bay County and Rosemary Beach on 30A in Walton County on Wednesday.
Scenic Highway 30A is a 24-mile corridor, mostly void of high rises, that wanders along between Destin and Panama City Beach hugging the Gulf of Mexico Coastline. Its beaches are known for crystal white sand and the area, a popular tourist destination known only as "30A," is filled with coastal dunes and popular residential communities including Seaside, Watercolor, Alys Beach and Rosemary Beach. Some houses along highway 30A reach above $5 million to $10 million in value and its part-time residents include former football coaches (Bobby Bowden) and celebrities (Luke Bryan).
"That's basically the entirety of South Walton," said county spokesman Louis Svehla, according to the Destin Log.
On Monday evening, with Hurricane Michael forecast to hit the area on Wednesday at Category 3 strength, potentially causing catastrophic devastation, Walton County (Florida) Emergency Management issued mandatory evacuations for zones A, B, and C. This includes many coastal areas along Scenic Highway 30A in Walton County like Seaside. Residents in mandatory evacuation zones A, B or C were asked to "please prepare your home and beginning at 7:00 am on Tuesday, October 9th."
The Walton County Evacuation Zone Map can be viewed at http://bit.ly/2ESHSon. If you are unsure of your Evacuation Zone, you may search by address at http://bit.ly/2ogfd34. See complete Florida panhandle evacuation maps here.
"Michael could develop into a potentially catastrophic event for the northeastern Gulf Coast," the National Weather Service office in Tallahassee, Florida, wrote in a forecast discussion note Monday afternoon.
Popular Walton County communities like Seaside and Watercolor issued the mandatory evacuation notice Monday evening to visitors, telling them they must be out of the area no later than 11 a.m. on Tuesday, October 9. Hurricane Michael is excepted to hit sometime between Wednesday morning and early Wednesday afternoon with winds of 115 miles per hour, or major Category 3 strength.
"The Walton County Evacuation Zone includes Seaside and all Cottage Rental Agency Rental homes," said a notice from a rental agency in Seaside, Florida on 30A. "We regret all guests and occupants must depart no later than 11 a.m. on Tuesday, October 9."
Nearby Okaloosa County, which includes Destin and Sandestin, has also issued a volunteary evacuation order for the following evacuation zones:
Evacuation Zone A
Evacuation Zone B
Evacuation Zone C
A local state of emergency has been declared for Walton County and officials said they are preparing for the worst.
"Even if it wobbles to the west, we still can get hit with a category 2 or 3 storm so that's what we are preparing for," said Jeff Goldberg, Emergency Management, Director, according to mypanhandle.com. "If we say evacuate and you're in an evacuation zone, you need to evacuate," said Goldberg.
"People need to keep in mind that Clyde B Wells Bridge will shut down once sustained winds reach 40 miles per hour," said Bill Chapman, Walton County Commissioner, Chairman, according to mypanhandle.com.
Hurricane Michael is forecast to get much stronger and its headed toward delivering a hard, direct hit on the Florida panhandle as a Category 3 storm on Wednesday, according to the National Hurricane Center. Hurricane Michael will bring "life-threatening" winds and flooding that will extend from the Florida panhandle into southern Georgia and southeast Alabama as the storm passes by, forecasters said.
Storm surge will also be "life-threatening" along the coast, likely reaching five to 12 feet in some panhandle locations including from the Okaloosa/Walton line to Indian Pass and Cedar Key. The latest forecast track in the NHC's Monday 4 p.m. update has shifted slightly to the west, closer to Destin/Walton County and Panama City, though it could be further adjusted in the coming days before landfall.
The National Hurricane Center said that Hurricane Michael will experience "steady to rapid strengthening" and that its maximum sustained winds could reach 120 miles per hour in 36 hours, just before landfall. Hurricane Michael is forecast to approach the Florida panhandle on Wednesday as a Category 3 storm with winds of 115 miles per hour
"Life-threatening storm surge is likely along portions of the coasts of the Florida Panhandle, Big Bend, and Nature Coast, and a storm surge warning is in effect for these areas," the National Hurricane Center said Monday. "Residents in these areas should follow all advice given by their local officials."
Uncommon Knowledge
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
About the writer
To read how Newsweek uses AI as a newsroom tool, Click here.
