AccuWeather says the storm is expected to hit the Gulf Coast to become a Category 3 hurricane

A weather service said a storm heading toward the Gulf Coast is expected to become “a major hurricane with a major threat of storm surge and impacts that will reach hundreds of miles inland from where this storm makes landfall “.

The warning comes after a forecast by the US National Hurricane Center that said the US Gulf Coast, from Mississippi to the Florida Panhandle, was at hurricane risk by the end of the week as a period of rough Atlantic weather became more organized .

AccuWeather is forecasting a Category 3 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 111 to 130 miles per hour to make landfall on the US Gulf Coast on Thursday.

AccuWeather is also forecasting 8 to 12 inches of rain near the landfall, which may lead to widespread flooding near the center of the storm’s track. The weather service is also forecasting travel delays and impacts in the region. AccuWeather is forecasting 500 flight cancellations for Thursday and 1,000 flight cancellations for Friday.

Wind gusts of 60 to 80 mph are forecast in the Florida Panhandle and southern Georgia and Alabama. Wind gusts could reach 140 to 150 mph near where the center of circulation makes landfall, according to AccuWeather.

AccuWeather says residents from Mobile, Alabama to Fort Myers, Florida should brace for the potential of 1 to 3 feet of storm surge Wednesday night through Thursday night. Areas from Panama Beach, Florida to the Tampa Bay area can expect 3 to 6 feet of storm surge.

Forecasters also say there will be a risk of tornadoes as the storm approaches the coast and moves inland by Friday evening.