Updated at 11:55 p.m. ET
Hurricane Michael is expected to strengthen rapidly over the next 24 to 36 hours and will be “a dangerous major hurricane when it reaches the northeastern Gulf Coast on Wednesday,” the National Hurricane Center says.
The storm achieved hurricane status with maximum sustained winds of 75 mph Monday morning, triggering warnings of a life-threatening storm surge that could hit the Florida Gulf Coast. Later in the day, its sustained winds topped 90 mph, with stronger gusts.
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