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Hurricane Michael Photos Show 'Monstrous' Storm Surge Pummeling Florida Panhandle

The National Weather Service called the life-threatening storm "a worst case scenario" for northwest Florida.
Hayley Miller
By 

Senior reporter, HuffPost

LOADINGERROR LOADING

As Hurricane Michael barreled through the Gulf of Mexico toward northwest Florida on Wednesday, dangerous storm surges had already begun flooding the state’s vulnerable coastal communities.

In St. Marks, roughly 20 miles south of Tallahassee, photos showed rising waters pouring into homes and businesses as early as Wednesday morning.

“Flooding underway already in St. Marks and it’s low tide,” tweeted NPR’s Miami correspondent Greg Allen. “And the hurricane is still hours away.”

Michael intensified to a Category 4 early Wednesday with winds of 155 mph, making it the most powerful storm to hit the Florida Panhandle in 100 years.

Life-threatening storm surges of up to 14 feet are expected in some areas, the National Weather Service warned Wednesday. “THIS IS A WORST CASE SCENARIO for the Florida Panhandle!!” the agency tweeted.

Florida Gov. Rick Scott has urged anyone in an evacuation zone to leave immediately, calling the storm “monstrous” and “deadly.”

Check out the photos below to see the early devastation wrought by Michael:

This photo made available by NASA shows the eye of Hurricane Michael, as seen from the International Space Station on Oct. 10, 2018.
This photo made available by NASA shows the eye of Hurricane Michael, as seen from the International Space Station on Oct. 10, 2018.
NASA via AP
Floodwaters hit the Cooter Stew Cafe in St. Marks, Florida, on Oct. 10, as Hurricane Michael pushes the storm surge up the Wakulla and St. Marks rivers, which come together in the town.
Floodwaters hit the Cooter Stew Cafe in St. Marks, Florida, on Oct. 10, as Hurricane Michael pushes the storm surge up the Wakulla and St. Marks rivers, which come together in the town.
Mark Wallheiser via Getty Images
Mitchell Pope tries to salvage what he can from his mobile home on Oct. 10 in St. Marks.
Mitchell Pope tries to salvage what he can from his mobile home on Oct. 10 in St. Marks.
Mark Wallheiser via Getty Images
Flight director and NOAA meteorologist Richard Henning looks at a satellite view of Hurricane Michael from his workstation aboard NOAA's Gulfstream IV jet, a high-flying platform used for hurricane forecasting and research, on Oct. 10.
Flight director and NOAA meteorologist Richard Henning looks at a satellite view of Hurricane Michael from his workstation aboard NOAA's Gulfstream IV jet, a high-flying platform used for hurricane forecasting and research, on Oct. 10.
Luis Santana/The Tampa Bay Times via AP
Bo Lynn's Market starts taking water in the town of St. Marks on Oct. 10.
Bo Lynn's Market starts taking water in the town of St. Marks on Oct. 10.
Mark Wallheiser via Getty Images
Waves wash over a house as Hurricane Michael comes ashore in Alligator Point, Florida, on Oct. 10.
Waves wash over a house as Hurricane Michael comes ashore in Alligator Point, Florida, on Oct. 10.
Carlo Allegri / Reuters
The St. Marks River overflows into the town of St. Marks, ahead of Hurricane Michael, on Oct. 10.
The St. Marks River overflows into the town of St. Marks, ahead of Hurricane Michael, on Oct. 10.
AP Photo/Brendan Farrington
Waves crash along a pier as Hurricane Michael approaches Panama City Beach, Florida, on Oct. 10.
Waves crash along a pier as Hurricane Michael approaches Panama City Beach, Florida, on Oct. 10.
Jonathan Bachman / Reuters
Lenora Adams loads up her dog as she evacuates a motel in Panacea, Florida, on Oct. 10.
Lenora Adams loads up her dog as she evacuates a motel in Panacea, Florida, on Oct. 10.
Carlo Allegri / Reuters
A message has been written on a closed business as Hurricane Michael approaches Panama City Beach, Florida, on Oct. 10.
A message has been written on a closed business as Hurricane Michael approaches Panama City Beach, Florida, on Oct. 10.
Jonathan Bachman / Reuters
An unidentified person takes pictures of the surf and fishing pier on Okaloosa Island in Fort Walton Beach, Florida, on Oct. 10.
An unidentified person takes pictures of the surf and fishing pier on Okaloosa Island in Fort Walton Beach, Florida, on Oct. 10.
Devon Ravine/Northwest Florida Daily News via AP
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