The Florida Panhandle, which was devastated by Michael, has no prior record of such a strong storm. Incredibly Michael was still a major (Category 3) hurricane when it tracked into Georgia early Wednesday evening, becoming the most intense storm to hit the state since 1898.
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Michael’s maximum sustained winds of 155 mph at the time of landfall place it at fourth strongest, behind only the three Category 5 hurricane landfalls in the continental U.S.: Labor Day (1935), Camille (1969) and Andrew (1992).
Continue reading: Michael made history as one of the top four strongest hurricanes to strike the United States
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