New Hurricane Expected to Target Florida’s East Coast
Subtropical Storm Nicole is forecast to keep strengthening and is expected to be a Category 1 hurricane when it approaches Florida’s east coast late Wednesday into Thursday morning, the National Hurricane Center said Monday morning.A hurricane watch is in effect along the east coast of Florida, from the Volusia/Brevard county line to Hallandale Beach, the hurricane center said.The watch extends from just north of Miami to the Space Coast and includes Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach, Cape Canaveral, and Melbourne.A storm surge watch has also been issued for parts of Florida and Georgia, from Altamaha Sound to Hallandale Beach.Florida officials are warning residents, including those recently hit by the destructive Hurricane Ian, that a tropical system could bring heavy rain and damaging winds this week.RELATED: Florida Update: Floating Cars, Submerged Buildings, and No PowerThe warning comes as Subtropical Storm Nicole has formed in the southwest Atlantic about 555 miles east of northwestern Bahamas, according to the National Hurricane Center.
The storm, now packing winds of 45 mph with higher gusts, is expected to begin impacting Florida by Tuesday evening.Already, the U.S.
territories of Puerto Rico and Virgin Islands are under a flash flood watch through Monday afternoon, and tropical storm watches are in effect for northwest Bahamas.As the system forms, it will possibly churn toward Florida and the Southeast U.S.
through early this week, according to CNN Meteorologist Robert Shackelford.“Regardless of development, heavy rainfall, coastal flooding, gale force winds, and rip tides will impact eastern Florida and the southeast U.S.,” Shackelford explained.Rainfalls in the Sunshine State could range between two and four.
