Tropical Storm Nicole headed for the Florida coast
Another tropical storm is brewing in the tropics, but this time, it’s headed for the Floridian Atlantic coastline.
Tropical Storm Nicole is forecasted to strike the northwestern Bahamas today with high storm surge expected. A Hurricane Warning is in effect with Nicole expected to strike as a category 1 hurricane. Nicole will then move back over open water to the west of the Bahamas before moving toward the Florida Atlantic coastline.
Floridians are gearing up for another blow only a little over a month after Hurricane Ian, the deadliest hurricane in the state’s history. Although Nicole will be much weaker - potentially even hitting the state below hurricane status - its effects will be widespread and greatly impact Florida residents.
Forecast models indicate that Nicole could strike Florida as either a tropical storm or a category 1 hurricane depending on how much intensification happens after the eye moves past the Bahamas.
If the storm strengthens back into a hurricane before making landfall in Florida, it will become the second latest Atlantic hurricane landfall in the US on record - the first being Hurricane Kate which made landfall on November 21, 1985.
Before looking at the forecasted track of Tropical Storm Nicole, it is important to keep in mind that this storm will be large and produce widespread damaging impacts far outside the forecast cone, especially to the north.
Right now, Tropical Storm Nicole is expected to reach category 1 hurricane status before making landfall around the Abacos Islands and Grand Bahama in the early afternoon.
It will then continue to move westward through the day, likely reaching the Florida coast this evening or tonight, but tropical storm conditions have already reached eastern Florida where a Hurricane Warning is in place. Through the day today, tropical storm conditions will continue to spread northward toward eastern Georgia and South Carolina.
Storm surge, up to 5 feet in spots, is expected along the Atlantic coast stretching from southeastern Florida up through South Carolina. Severe effects, such as tornadoes, could develop within the tropical storm.
One of the greatest threats Nicole poses is heavy rainfall. Floridians could see upwards of 6” of rain in spots. It’s expected that areas along the East Coast and in the Appalachian Mountains could see between 3-4” of rain with isolated higher rain totals likely.
Flash flooding and urban flooding could threaten communities all across the southeastern US from the Florida peninsula up through central Appalachia. Isolated flood threats could even extend as far north as western New York.
Rainfall and other post-tropical cyclone effects from Nicole will impact many near in the eastern US into the weekend. To find out more information about Tropical Storm Nicole, visit the National Hurricane Center webpage.