Hurricane Michael - LIVE: Trump warns storm is 'even more intense than Florence' as ‘life-threatening’ surges and floods predicted in Florida and Alabama

The storm is expected to develop into a Category 3 hurricane by the time it makes landfall on Wednesday near the US Gulf Coast

Florida Governor Rick Scott urges residents to prepare for tropical storm Michael

Tropical Storm Michael has now officially become a hurricane, the US National Hurricane Centre said.

The storm off Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula has rapidly strengthened and is expected to strike the Gulf Coast in the Florida Panhandle with potential winds of 100mph.

Florida Governor Rick Scott has declared a state of emergency in 26 counties as the hurricane approaches the state.

Follow updates on Storm Michael below, as they happened.

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Additional reporting from Reuters.

[8 October 2018 15:50 · Lucy Anna Gray]

Hello and welcome to our live coverage of Storm Michael. We'll be bringing you all the latest as the storm is expected to develop into a hurricane later today.

[8 October 2018 16:00 · Lucy Anna Gray]

Michael has now strengthened into a hurricane, according to the US National Hurricane Centre. 

It is expected to grow even stronger, with heavy rainfall and fast winds as it approaches Florida. 

[8 October 2018 16:02 · Lucy Anna Gray]

Currently over Cuba, the storm is preparing to move over the Gulf of Mexico.

Forecasters say Hurricane Michael will move over very warm waters and could strengthen into winds topping 111mph (178 kph) by Tuesday night. 

[8 October 2018 16:10 · Lucy Anna Gray]

Hurricane Michael is on track to hit the Florida Panhandle midweek as a Category 2 hurricane packing 100 miles per hour (160 kmh) or stronger winds, the U.S. National Hurricane Centre (NHC) has announced.

[8 October 2018 16:16 · Lucy Anna Gray]

The National Hurricane Centre will be holding a live broadcast at 11.40am EDT (4.40pm GMT) on Hurricane Michael.

[8 October 2018 16:23 · Lucy Anna Gray]

Here is a more detailed look at the path of Hurricane Michael:

[8 October 2018 16:41 · Lucy Anna Gray]

At the moment, Michael's top sustained winds are around 75mph (120kph) off the western tip of Cuba.

It is moving north at speeds of around 7mph (11kph).

[8 October 2018 16:52 · Lucy Anna Gray]

You can watch a live stream of the National Hurricane Centre explaining the path of Hurricane Michael and its potential impacts here.

[8 October 2018 16:59 · Lucy Anna Gray]

Florida Governor Rick Scott declared a state of emergency for 26 counties. "This storm will be life-threatening and extremely dangerous," Mr Scott said after receiving a briefing at the State Emergency Operations Centre. He also warned residents that the storm surge could affect areas of Florida not in the storm's direct path. 

[8 October 2018 17:11 · Lucy Anna Gray]

A message from Florida governor Rick Scott on Twitter: