Hurricane Michael Upgraded To Category Four As It Approaches Florida

UPDATE: The National Hurricane Center says Michael has become an extremely dangerous Category 4 storm.

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Forecasters say Michael has strengthening into a major hurricane with winds of 120 mph (190 kph).

The National Hurricane Center in Miami says in a Tuesday evening advisory that Michael has become a Category 3 hurricane and is moving north across the Gulf of Mexico at 12 mph (19 kph). The hurricane is about 295 miles (475 kilometers) south of Panama City Beach, Florida.

Michael is expected to continue across the Gulf through the night and move inland over the Florida Panhandle on Wednesday. It is forecast to be a major hurricane at landfall and weaken as it moves across the southeastern U.S.

The hurricane center says some areas could see as much as 13 feet (4 meters) of storm surge and 12 inches (30 centimeters) of rain.

Several schools across the South have closed or plan to close in advance of Hurricane Michael.

Many Florida schools, including Florida State University, closed Tuesday and announced they will remain that way until at least Thursday.

Florida State was also inviting its off-campus students, faculty and staff to weather the storm in the building where its basketball teams play.

In Bay County, Florida, where 120,000 people were ordered to evacuate, the school district tweeted that the decision to cancel school wasn't made lightly, but so many families have heeded the warnings to flee.

In Alabama, Troy University and Wallace Community College in the southeastern part of the state canceled Wednesday classes.

Local news media report that several universities as well as public and private schools in southern and central Georgia would close through at least Thursday.

On Monday, Alabama Governor Kay Ivey declared a state of emergency ahead of the storm. 

Florida Gov. Rick Scott has issued an order for a state of emergency for 26 counties to rush preparations in the Florida Panhandle and the Big Bend area, freeing up resources and activating 500 members of the Florida National Guard. Scott says: "This storm will be life-threatening and extremely dangerous."

President Trump, speaking at a law enforcement convention in Florida, said his administration is prepared to deal with the impacts of Hurricane Michael.

"As Hurricane Michael nears landfall, we are working with state and local officials in Florida to take all are in precautions and we urge all residents to be prepared and to heed local officials. I told Rick Scott, we are ready for you," the President said.

Trump said Federal Emergency Management Agency has been briefed and is preparing for the storm. He added that the hurricane looks like "a big one."

(The Associated Press, CNN contributed to this report.)