Hurricane Michael has strengthened to a Category 2 storm.
Residents in Florida's northeast Gulf Coast are preparing for storm impact by boarding up their homes and seeking evacuation routes away from the dangerous storm heading their way.
By early Tuesday, Michael's top sustained winds had risen some to 100 mph as it headed north at 12 mph.
The storm was centered about 365 miles south of Apalachicola and 395 miles south of Panama City, Florida.
Hurricane-force winds extended outward up to 35 miles from the core and tropical-storm-force winds out 175 miles. Hurricane-force winds extended outward up to 40 miles from the core and tropical-storm-force winds out 195 miles.
Forecasters warned that Michael could dump up to a foot of rain in western Cuba, potentially triggering flash floods and mudslides in mountain areas.