Graphic shows the predicted wind speeds over the next five days caused by Hurricane Michael; 2c x 4 inches; 96.3 mm x 101 mm;

STATE COLLEGE — Hurricane Michael is expected to landfall along the Florida Panhandle Gulf Coast today and move up the east coast. Heavy rain and strong winds will spread farther inland across parts of the Southeast after landfall.

But whether anything from the storm will make its way to central Pennsylvania remains to be seen.

Moisture from the remnants of the hurricane will move north tonight through Thursday, said Michael Colbert, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in State College.

Most of those remnants will likely stay in the Carolinas and Virginia, areas that were hit by Hurricane Florence last month, he said.

“It looks like that track will stay south of us,” Colbert said, adding that there’s a slim chance central Pennsylvania could see some remnants of the storm, but it’s not likely.

But a cold front that will move through Pennsylvania beginning Wednesday night, will cool the central Pennsylvania region off.

“It will feel a lot more like autumn,” Colbert said.

The high today will be around 80, dropping down to about 75 on Thursday.

There is rainfall expected on Thursday, but it is “indirectly associated with Michael,” meteorologist Matt Steinbugl said, predicting periods of showers and possibly a thunderstorm with a high near 75 and a low Thursday night of around 51.

Friday, Saturday and Sunday will see much of the same with mostly cloudy skies, a 50 percent chance of precipitation and daytime temperatures reaching only into the 50s or 60s. On Sunday, there’s also a chance of rain and a low of 48 and a high of 60.

Whether or not the Northeast will face a localized or widespread flood threat will depend on two factors– the speed of cooler and drier air, and the track of Hurricane Michael.

“In the most likely scenario, flash flooding may be more localized provided Michael remains in the south and the cool press continues at a steady pace through the Northeast,” AccuWeather reports. “If the storm moves farther to the north and the cooler air is delayed, heavy rain could spread into the central Appalachians, the mid-Atlantic, and possibly New England.

Meanwhile, Hurricane Michael has strengthened to Category 2 intensity, and is forecast to strike the Florida Panhandle at least as strong as a Category 3 with dangerous storm surge flooding, destructive winds and flooding rainfall. Michael will also bring heavy rain and strong winds to other parts of the southeastern United States after it moves inland.

“Michael could develop into a potentially catastrophic event for the northeastern Gulf Coast,” the National Weather Service office in Tallahassee, Fla., wrote in its area forecast discussion Monday afternoon. Michael could be the strongest hurricane to landfall along the stretch of Florida’s Panhandle Gulf Coast in 13 years.

The National Hurricane Center reports that as of 4 a.m. Tuesday, Hurricane Michael had maximum sustained winds of 90 mph. The storm as moving NNW at 12 mph, and is expected to make landfall on the Florida’s Panhandle at 1 p.m. today.

The National Hurricane Center predicts that Michael will reach major hurricane status today as it nears the coast with sustained winds of 120 mph.

Florida Gov. Rick Scott has now declared a state of emergency in 35 counties ahead of Michael’s predicted landfall on Wednesday.

“Hurricane Michael is forecast to be the most destructive storm to hit the Florida Panhandle in decades,” Scott said at a press conference Monday evening.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency has mobilized resources from the federal government to assist with the preparation.

“The Panhandle and Big Bend could see winds in excess of 100 mph,” Scott said at a briefing Sunday evening. “Remember, this storm could grow stronger and be a Category 3 hitting our state. This storm will be life-threatening and extremely dangerous.”

Mandatory evacuations were ordered in parts of Panama City Beach starting Tuesday morning.

The National Hurricane Center announced the upgrade from a tropical storm at 11 a.m. Monday, making it the seventh named hurricane of the year.

Wednesday: A slight chance of showers after 2pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 79. Calm wind becoming south 5 to 7 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

Wednesday Night: Showers likely, mainly after 2am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 65. South wind around 6 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible.

Thursday: Periods of showers and possibly a thunderstorm. High near 75. South wind around 6 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New rainfall amounts between a half and three quarters of an inch possible.

Thursday Night: A slight chance of showers before 2am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 51. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

Sunday Night: A chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 48. Chance of precipitation is 50%.

Monday: A chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 60. Chance of precipitation is 50%.