Tropical Storm Michael has strengthened into a hurricane.
At last check, the storm is heading into the Gulf of Mexico between Cancun and western Cuba and is expected to move north across the Gulf over the next two days.
Michael is a major threat to the Florida Panhandle and the west coast of Florida down to Tampa Bay. Everyone in that area should be on high alert.
The National Hurricane Center is estimating that Michael will be a high-end Category 2 at landfall. However, there are indications for and against even more strengthening.
The upper winds will be somewhat hostile Monday, although Michael is strengthening in spite of the hostile conditions. But the conditions are forecast to become more favorable for strengthening tomorrow into Wednesday.
Exactly how this pattern will develop is uncertain.