As Category 4 Hurricane Michael reaches the Florida Panhandle, the state of North Carolina declared a state of emergency Wednesday in preparation for tropical storm conditions.

Just three days after students returned to UNCW following a month-long absence in the wake of Hurricane Florence, the Office of University Relations (OUR) announced that class would be canceled Thursday starting at 12:15 p.m.

“We anticipate resuming classes and reopening campus per usual as of Friday, Oct. 12, at 6 a.m., but a message will be sent to confirm this by 7 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 11” explained the email sent to students and faculty at UNCW.

In addition to UNCW, New Hanover County schools and Cape Fear Community College are closed tomorrow due to Hurricane Michael.

Wilmington is currently operating under a Tropical Storm Warning as the area braces for tropical storm winds ranging from 30-40 mph and between two and five inches of rain.

In addition to wind and rain, meteorologists are preparing the public for the possibility of tornados, which can form during tropical storm conditions.

This is a developing story and more details will be updated when available.