Hurricane Michael Update
Rail Advisory – CSX Taking Precautions Ahead of Hurricane Michael
CSX continues to take measures to protect employees, rail traffic and infrastructure as Hurricane Michael approaches the U.S. mainland as a major hurricane. The storm is projected to make landfall Wednesday as a Category 3 hurricane, bringing the potential of storm surge along low lying areas. At this time, we do not know the extent to which the storm will impact CSX operations, but we are closely monitoring its path and intensity and taking steps to prepare for any potential effects on our network.
Please be advised that, until further notice, CSX is curtailing operations along the Florida Panhandle and into southeastern Georgia. All shipments traveling between Pensacola, Fla. and Baldwin, Fla., and between Dothan, Ala. and Valdosta, Ga. will experience delays.
We will continue to provide updates as we monitor the storm. Intermodal customers should refer to Real-Time Service Advisories for intermodal-specific operational actions, though there are no intermodal impacts at this time.
US Gulf Coast ports close ahead of Hurricane Michael
Janet Nodar | Oct 09, 2018 1:27PM EDT
Wednesday, Oct. 10, 2018
8:30 a.m. EDT UPDATE:
Hurricane Michael strengthened to a Category 4 hurricane overnight, with winds of 145 miles per hour. The storm is now 90 miles SW of Panama City and expected to make landfall by Wednesday afternoon, with hurricane-force winds reaching the Florida panhandle coast by noon. Storm surge could reach 11 to 14 feet in some areas.
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Tuesday, Oct. 9, 2018
2:15 p.m. EDT UPDATE:
According to the Florida Ports Council, the ports of Pensacola and Panama City are now under port status Zulu, closed to all inbound and outbound traffic, as hurricane force winds of 73 miles per hour or higher could arrive within 12 hours.
For port status updates, check the US Coast Guard port directory. Pensacola and Panama City are in the Mobile district.
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| Storm surges from Hurricane Michael could reach 12 feet. While a few beach communities are densely populated, much of the region is rural and sparsely populated. |
The National Hurricane Center estimated that as of 10 a.m. EDT Tuesday, Hurricane Michael was likely to make landfall in the Florida panhandle Tuesday night/Wednesday morning, possibly as a Category 3 storm with winds as high as 120 miles per hour.
Storm surges could reach 12 feet. While a few beach communities are densely populated, much of the region is rural and sparsely populated.
As of Tuesday at midday, Michael was located 360 miles south of Panama City, Florida, and moving north at 12 miles per hour with winds up to 110 miles per hour.
Up to 12 inches of rain expected
The northeastern US Gulf Coast could see up to 12 inches of rain. As the storm moves inland across the Florida panhandle and Georgia on Wednesday and early Thursday, six to 10 inches of rain is expected during that period.
The US Coast Guard has declared Condition Yankee for the eastern US Gulf of Mexico ports including Panama City, Pensacola, Mobile, Pascagoula, and Gulfport. Under Yankee, gale force winds are expected within 24 hours, ports are closed to inbound and outbound traffic, and vessel movements within ports are subject to traffic control measures.
