PANAMA CITY, Fla. – Hurricane Michael made landfall Wednesday afternoon near Mexico Beach in the Florida Panhandle, ravaging the region with storm surge, heavy rains and sustained winds of 155 mph.
Forecasters mark landfall as the place and time when the center of the eye strikes land. Minutes earlier, Michael's eyewall came ashore between Panama City and St. Vincent Island, and the hurricane center warned everyone inside the relative calm of the eye not to venture outside.
The massive storm spread hurricane-force winds outward up to 45 miles from the center.
Those winds were tearing some buildings apart in Panama City Beach. One beachfront structure under construction could be seen collapsing (watch in video player above), and metal roofing material flew sideways across parking lots amid sheets of rain.
[WATCH BELOW: Sky 6 flies over post-Michael devastation along Florida's Gulf Coast]
In addition, News 6 partner WJXT-TV showed water surging in Panama City Beach (watch below).
"I've been chasing storms for 10 years, and this is the most powerful, incredible, scary storm I have experienced," reporter Vic Micolucci said from the third floor of a parking garage about 300 yards from the beach.
Video showed wind whipping rain through the garage as the eye passed through the area.
BREAKING: HURRICANE MAKES LANDFALL | WJXT4 Vic Micolucci is LIVE in Panama City Beach where Category 4 Michael barrels ashore with 155 mph winds.
Check out more videos related to Hurricane Michael below.
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Tom Bailey walks his bike past a home that was carried across a road and slammed up against a condo complex as Hurricane Michael passed through the area on October 11, 2018 in Mexico Beach, Florida. The hurricane hit the panhandle area with category 4 winds causing major damage.Charles Smith looks at what is left of his hotel after it was destroyed when Hurricane Michael passed through the area on October 11, 2018 in Mexico Beach, Florida. The hurricane hit the panhandle area with category 4 winds causing major damage.Members of the South Florida Search and Rescue team search for survivors in the destruction left after Hurricane Michael passed through the area on October 11, 2018 in Mexico Beach, Florida. The hurricane hit the panhandle area with category 4 winds causing major damage.A Coast Guard helicopter passes over a damaged home and the foundation of where a home once stood (to the right) before it was blown away by Hurricane Michael as it passed through the area on October 11, 2018 in Mexico Beach, Florida. The hurricane hit the panhandle area with category 4 winds causing major damage.People line up at a food truck after Hurricane Michael cut power to the Florida panhandle on October 11, 2018 in Crawfordville, Florida. The hurricane hit the Florida Panhandle as a category 4 storm.Jim Bob looks out on the destruction caused as Hurricane Michael passed through the area on October 11, 2018 in Mexico Beach, Florida. The hurricane hit the panhandle area with category 4 winds causing major damage.A member of the South Florida Search and Rescue team searches for survivors in the destruction left after Hurricane Michael passed through the area on October 11, 2018 in Mexico Beach, Florida. The hurricane hit the panhandle area with category 4 winds causing major damage.Brian Bartlett from the South Florida Search and Rescue team checks in on Tom Garcia after Hurricane Michael passed through the area on October 11, 2018 in Mexico Beach, Florida. Mr. Garcia said he stayed in his home through the storm and he had to hold the sliding glass doors shut as the wind tore through. The hurricane hit the panhandle area with category 4 winds causing major damage.Cars are piled on top of each other after Hurricane Michael passed through the area on October 11, 2018 in Mexico Beach, Florida. The hurricane hit the panhandle area with category 4 winds causing major damage.Kathy Coy stands among what is left of her home on Oct. 11, 2018, after Hurricane Michael destroyed it in Panama City, Florida. She said she was in the home when it was blown apart and is thankful to be alive. The hurricane hit the Florida Panhandle as a Category 4 storm.A store's windows are seen shattered as Hurricane Michael passed through the downtown area on Oct. 10, 2018, in Panama City, Florida. The hurricane hit the Florida Panhandle as a Category 4 storm.Rick Teska (L) helps a business owner rescue his dogs from the damaged business after Hurricane Michael passed through the area on Oct. 10, 2018, in Panama City, Florida. The hurricane hit the Florida Panhandle as a Category 4 storm.Phlomena Telker stands on what was her covered porch after Hurricane Michael tore the roof off her home as it passed through the area on Oct. 10, 2018, in Panama City, Florida. The hurricane hit the Florida Panhandle as a Category 4 storm.A McDonald's sign is seen laying on the ground after it was knocked down hy Hurricane Michael as it passed through the area on Oct. 10, 2018, in Panama City, Florida. The hurricane hit the Florida Panhandle as a Category 4 storm.A fallen tree rests on a house after remnants of Hurricane Michael passed through on Oct. 11, 2018, in Columbia, South Carolina. The accident sent at least one person to the hospital.Gavin Conklin, 17, gathers water bottles from a neighbor's refrigerator on Oct. 10, 2018, after Hurricane Michael destroyed the home in Panama City, Florida. The hurricane hit the Florida Panhandle as a Category 4 storm.Hector Benthall, right, gets a hug from his neighbor Keito Jordan after remnants of Hurricane Michael sent a tree crashing into Benthall's home on Oct. 11, 2018, in Columbia, South Carolina. Jordan was the first responder to the accident that sent at least one person to the hospital.Debris is strewn next to a mobile home destroyed by Hurricane Michael on Oct. 11, 2018, in Panama City, Florida. The hurricane hit the Florida Panhandle as a Category 4 storm.Debris is seen in the trees on Oct. 11, 2018, after Hurricane Michael passed through Panama City, Florida. The hurricane hit the Florida Panhandle as a Category 4 storm.People walk past an apartment destroyed by Hurricane Michael on October 11, 2018, in Panama City, Florida. The hurricane hit the Florida Panhandle as a Category 4 storm.Trees are seen stripped of their foliage on Oct. 11, 2018, after Hurricane Michael passed through Panama City, Florida. The hurricane hit the Florida Panhandle as a Category 4 storm.People walk past a home destroyed by Hurricane Michael on October 11, 2018, in Panama City, Florida. The hurricane hit the Florida Panhandle as a Category 4 storm.Amanda Logsdon begins the process of trying to clean up her home on Oct. 11, 2018, after the roof was blown off by Hurricane Michael in Panama City, Florida. The hurricane hit the Florida Panhandle as a Category 4 storm.People look on at a damaged store after Hurricane Michael passed through in Panama City, Florida.People walk past damaged stores after Hurricane Michael passed through the downtown area of Panama City, Florida.Damaged buildings and a flooded street are seen after Hurricane Michael passed through the downtown area of Panama City, Florida.Hurricane Michael strikes the Florida Panhandle on Wednesday.Boats that were docked are seen in a pile of rubble after hurricane Michael passed through downtown Panama City, Florida.Hurricane Michael strikes the Florida Panhandle on Wednesday.The roof of a motel has blown off a building on the west end of Panama City Beach. Windows have reportedly also been blown off.Scott Brazer and his dog Franklin take shelter in a parking garage as Hurricane Michael passes through the area on Oct. 10, 2018, in Panama City, Florida. The hurricane made landfall on the Florida Panhandle as a Category 4 storm.The storm surge from Hurricane Michael pushes into yards four hours prior to high tide on Oct. 10, 2018, in the Florida Panhandle community of Shell Point Beach. The hurricane is forecast to hit the Florida Panhandle at a possible Category 4 storm.Ellis Davis makes sure his boat is secure as the outer bands of Hurricane Michael arrive on Oct. 10, 2018, in Panama City, Florida. The hurricane is forecast to hit the Florida Panhandle at a possible Category 4 storm.Mitchell Pope tries to salvage what he can from his mobile home as Hurricane Michael pushes the storm surge up the Wakulla and Saint Marks rivers which come together here on Oct. 10, 2018, in Saint Marks, Florida. The hurricane is forecast to hit the Florida Panhandle at a possible Category 4 storm.The town of Saint Marks goes underwater as Hurricane Michael pushes the storm surge up the Wakulla and Saint Marks rivers which come together here on Oct. 10, 2018, in Saint Marks, Florida. The hurricane is forecast to hit the Florida Panhandle at a possible Category 4 storm.Shields Marina starts taking on water in the town of Saint Marks as Hurricane Michael pushes the storm surge up the Wakulla and Saint Marks rivers which come together here on Oct. 10, 2018, in Saint Marks, Florida. The hurricane is forecast to hit the Florida Panhandle at a possible Category 4 storm.Bo Lynn's Market starts taking water in the town of Saint Marks as Hurricane Michael pushes the storm surge up the Wakulla and Saint Marks rivers which come together here on Oct. 10, 2018, in Saint Marks, Florida. The hurricane is forecast to hit the Florida Panhandle at a possible Category 4 storm.Peggy Spell, Jacob Spell and Eddie Spell (L-R) sit in the lobby of the Hilton Garden Inn after leaving their home for a safer place as the outer bands of Hurricane Michael arrive on Oct. 10, 2018, in Panama City, Florida. The hurricane is forecast to hit the Florida Panhandle at a possible Category 4 storm.Storm surge and waves from Hurricane Michael batter beachfront homes on Oct. 10, 2018, in the Florida Panhandle community of Shell Point Beach. The hurricane is forecast to hit the Florida Panhandle at a possible Category 4 storm.People arrive at a special needs shelter at a high school as Hurricane Michael approaches on Oct. 10, 2018, in Tallahassee, Florida. The hurricane is forecast to hit the Florida Panhandle at a possible Category 4 storm.Kevin Futch, an employee at the Aloft Hotel, tosses furniture into the pool at daybreak as Hurricane Michael approaches on Oct. 10, 2018, in Tallahassee, Florida. The hurricane is forecast to hit the Florida Panhandle at a possible Category 4 storm.People try to get some rest at Lincoln High School as Hurricane Michael approaches on Oct. 10, 2018, in Tallahassee, Florida. The hurricane is forecast to hit the Florida Panhandle at a possible Category 4 storm.Emergency crews representing close to 100 various agencies work in the Florida Emergency Center on Oct. 10, 2018, in Tallahassee, Florida. The hurricane is forecast to hit the Florida Panhandle at a possible Category 4 storm.Storm surge and waves from Hurricane Michael batter beachfront homes on Oct. 10, 2018, in the Florida Panhandle community of Shell Point Beach. The hurricane is forecast to hit the Florida Panhandle at a possible Category 4 storm.Power crews from Decatur, Alabama, head into Tallahassee, Florida, as Hurricane Michael approaches on Oct. 10, 2018. The hurricane is forecast to hit the Florida Panhandle at a possible Category 4 storm.Storm surge and waves from Hurricane Michael batter beachfront homes on Oct. 10, 2018, in the Florida Panhandle community of Shell Point Beach. The hurricane is forecast to hit the Florida Panhandle at a possible Category 4 storm.Cameron Sadowski walks along where waves are crashing onto the beach as the outer bands of Hurricane Michael arrive on Oct. 10, 2018, in Panama City Beach, Florida. The hurricane is forecast to hit the Florida Panhandle at a possible Category 4 storm.Destin resident gets a quick swim in as Hurricane Michael slams into the Florida panhandle.Surf rising in Pensacola Beach ahead of Hurricane MichaelKathy Eaton takes what she can from her home as she evacuates ahead of Hurricane Michael on Oct. 10, 2018, in Panama City Beach, Florida. The hurricane is forecast to hit the Florida Panhandle at a possible Category 4 storm.James Langston (R) helps Ed Kelly evacuate his home as he evacuates ahead of Hurricane Michael on Oct. 10, 2018, in Panama City Beach, Florida. The hurricane is forecast to hit the Florida Panhandle at a possible Category 4 storm.More than 30 shelters had opened by Tuesday as Florida Panhandle residents fled in advance of Hurricane Michael.Wednesday morning view of Cat 4 Hurricane Michael with vis imagery from NOAA's GOES-16.Flooding along Shalimar Drive in Okaloosa County, Florida, on Wednesday morning.Employees at the Old Port Cove restaurant in Ozello, Florida, lay sandbags Tuesday. They were hoping to protect the restaurant ahead of Hurricane Michael.Waves crash along a pier as the outerbands of Hurricane Michael arrive on Oct. 10, 2018, in Panama City Beach, Florida. The hurricane is forecast to hit the Florida Panhandle as a possible Category 4 storm.Cars drive along a bridge as the outerbands of Hurricane Michael arrive on Oct. 10, 2018, in Panama City, Florida. The hurricane is forecast to hit the Florida Panhandle as a possible Category 4 storm.Waves crash along a pier as the outerbands of Hurricane Michael arrive on Oct. 10, 2018, in Panama City Beach, Florida. The hurricane is forecast to hit the Florida Panhandle as a possible Category 4 storm.Al Smith puts plywood over a window as he prepares a building for the arrival of Hurricane Michael on Oct. 9, 2018, in Port St. Joe, Florida. The hurricane is forecast to hit the Florida Panhandle as a possible Category 4 storm.Carol Cathey spraypaints the words "Calm down Michael" on the plywood over her daughter's business in preparation for the arrival of Hurricane Michael on Oct. 9, 2018, in Mexico Beach, Florida. The hurricane is forecast to hit the Florida Panhandle as a possible Category 4 storm.
Tom Bailey walks his bike past a home that was carried across a road and slammed up against a condo complex as Hurricane Michael passed through the area on October 11, 2018 in Mexico Beach, Florida. The hurricane hit the panhandle area with category 4 winds causing major damage.
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