Hurricane warnings and storm surge warnings are in effect along Floridas east coast in anticipation of Tropical Storm Nicole, according to the National Hurricane Center.
As of 7 a.m. Wednesday, the storm had maximum sustained winds near 70 mph with higher gusts, and it is expected to strengthen into a hurricane later Wednesday as it passes the Bahamas and approaches Florida, the agency said.
Satellite imagery shared by the Cooperative Institute for Research in the Atmosphere at Colorado State University shows Nicole “gathering strength” overnight Tuesday off the coast of the Bahamas.
The National Weather Service Miami said conditions were already deteriorating late Tuesday and early Wednesday, with wind and wave activity picking up at the shore.
A flood watch is in effect for much of southeastern Florida, with Palm Beach County expected to see the highest rainfall totals, the agency said. Evacuations are in effect Wednesday morning for some coastal zones.
Nicole is coming less than two months after Hurricane Ian slammed into the states southwest coast on Sep. 28 as a powerful Category 4 storm, inundating several counties with catastrophic storm surge and flooding rains.
