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Hurricane Michael was a Category 5 at landfall, NOAA says

The National Hurricane Center said it has upgraded Hurricane Michael to a Category 5 when it made landfall on the Florida Panhandle.

MEXICO BEACH, Fla. — Scientists with NOAA's National Hurricane Center have upgraded Hurricane Michael to a Category 5 storm.

NOAA said detailed post-storm analysis data showed the hurricane's estimated intensity at landfall was 160 miles per hour. Scientists said the final wind intensity was 5 miles per hour more than the original estimate of 155 miles per hour.

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Hurricane Michael made landfall on Oct. 10, 2018, near Mexico Beach and Tyndall Air Force Base in the Florida Panhandle. 

According to the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale, the standard used by the National Hurricane Center based on sustained wind speeds, Michael was originally categorized as a strong Category 4 with its previously measured 155 miles per hour sustained winds.

The last Category 5 hurricane to hit the United States was Andrew in 1992.

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