A powerful storm packing torrential rain and damaging winds could hit Florida’s east coast as a Category 1 hurricane this week, as many residents are still reeling from the aftermath of Hurricane Ian.
Subtropical Storm Nicole is expected to strengthen slowly as it approaches the Florida peninsula, bringing heavy rainfall that could lead to dangerous thunderstorms and strong winds starting Wednesday, according to Jamie Rhome, deputy director of the National Hurricane Center.
“We will probably have good parts of the Florida peninsula that will be affected by these conditions,” Rhome said Monday in a video update posted online.
More than 20 million people are under a tropical storm watch from Hallandale Beach, Florida, north to Georgia’s Altamaha Sound, according to CNN meteorologist Robert Shackelford. Additionally, a tropical storm warning has been issued for Lake Okeechobee in south Florida, he said.
Additionally, more than 5 million people are under storm surge warnings from North Palm Beach northward to Altamaha Sound, including the mouth of the St. Johns to Georgetown, Shackelford added.
As of early Tuesday, more than 8 million people were under a hurricane watch in Florida, Shackelford said. The storm is expected to make landfall Thursday morning over West Palm Beach, he said.
Areas along the state’s west coast from north of Bonita Beach to the Ochlockonee River were also under a tropical storm watch Tuesday morning.
Nicole was located about 400 miles east-northeast of the northwestern Bahamas on Tuesday morning. It is expected to become a tropical storm later Tuesday.
Nicole is not expected to intensify as quickly as Hurricane Ian did in late September, when it killed at least 120 people in its path across Florida and devastated communities still reeling from the devastation.
“We’re not predicting a major hurricane,” Rhome said. “Again, not a situation Ian, but still a potentially impactful system.”
It has impact in the sense that it is forecast to be a strong tropical storm or a Category 1 hurricane by the time it reaches Florida between Wednesday afternoon and Thursday morning, Rhome said.
“Florida residents need to take this seriously,” Rhome said.
The warning comes as a hurricane watch is currently in effect along Florida’s east coast from the Volusia/Brevard county line to Hallandale Beach, according to the hurricane center.
The watch also stretches from just north of Miami to the Space Coast and includes Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach, Cape Canaveral and Melbourne.
Subtropical Storm Nicole has sustained winds of 45 mph, with higher gusts, on Tuesday as it heads toward Florida from the northwestern Bahamas, where a hurricane warning is in effect.
“Don’t let the ‘under’ fool you. #Nicole is a formidable storm that will have major impacts along the entire SE US coastline, not just near the center. Coastal flooding, large waves and rip currents will extend from the tip of Florida to North Korea,” the National Weather Service explained.
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As many people across Florida head to the polls Tuesday for the midterm elections, forecasters are warning them to be prepared.
“Florida can expect scattered showers and thunderstorms to begin affecting parts of the state by Tuesday afternoon,” Shackelford said.
“The storm surge will be accompanied by large and destructive waves. Residents in the warning area should heed the advice of local officials,” the hurricane center said.
Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniela Levin Cava said online that she had been notified of the storm and urged residents to prepare.
“Residents and visitors should monitor the forecast and make sure their storm kit is up to date,” Levine Cava said in a social media post. “We are taking all necessary measures to prepare for possible flooding and power outages.”
Officials do not expect the storm to affect Election Day on Tuesday.
Rhome, the hurricane center’s deputy director, said there was a possibility of coastal flooding for a large area along the east coast of the Florida peninsula starting Wednesday, adding that some of those areas were affected by Hurricane Ian.
The main threats for Florida are heavy rainfall of up to 7 inches and storm surge that could reach 5 feet along the coast combined with strong winds. These conditions are expected mainly for Wednesday afternoon and Thursday.
