Nicole is forecast to move up the southeast coast of Florida late Wednesday as a strong tropical storm or Category 1 hurricane and then across the Florida peninsula on Thursday and Friday as a tropical storm. The big thing to know about Southwest Florida is that the biggest threats from the storm in terms of wind, rain and coastal flooding will be along Florida’s east coast, but we will likely experience tropical storm conditions in our area . Thursday would be the windiest and wettest day for our area, and depending on the exact track of the storm, coastal flooding could occur along the Southwest Florida coast. It is important to know that this system will not look like Ian for Southwest Florida. It’s not even close. But, plan for a few days of windy and rainy weather in our part of Florida. Now is a good time to make sure you clear your yard of as much trash as possible and be sure to stay up to date on the forecast. By Wednesday, some showers and gusty winds will be possible as the developing storm near the Bahamas moves closer to the east coast of Florida. Forecast models are in good agreement Nicole will head up the east coast of Florida late Wednesday and then north to the Florida peninsula on Thursday and Friday. Count on the NBC2 First Alert Hurricane team to keep you updated on the tropics this week as we track what will likely be another tropical system headed for the sunshine.
