The storm has been rapidly growing since Sunday thanks to warm gulf waters, and meteorologists say it could continue growing until it hits land.

The National Hurricane Center is warning that “life-threatening” storm surges are headed for parts of the Florida panhandle, and water levels were already rising in advance of the storm on Tuesday.



Between dangerous hurricane-force winds, rising tide waters, and large amounts of predicted rainfall, Michael is blowing in with a suit of dangers, but which one is most likely to cause injuries and fatalities?

Experts say storm surges are one of the most dangerous conditions. (Learn more about hurricanes.)

“Before modern technology, storm surges caused the greatest number of fatalities,” says National Hurricane Center meteorologist