Subtropical storm Nicole strengthened to a tropical storm on Tuesday

Article first published: Tuesday, November 08, 2022, 4 am EST

Article last updated: Tuesday, November 08, 2022, 10 pm EST

According to the National Hurricane Center’s 10 pm Tuesday advisory, Nicole was forecasted to be a tropical storm. The system has moved with sustained winds of 70 miles per hour. Tropical Storm Nicole is 150 miles east-northeast of Great Abaco Island and, 325 miles east of West Palm Beach Florida, with maximum sustained wind of 70 mph. It’s moving 10 mph to the west-southwest.

"... the center of Nicole will approach the northwestern Bahamas overnight, move near or over those islands on Wednesday, and approach the east coast of Florida within the hurricane warning area Wednesday night or early Thursday." meteorologists state. "Nicole's center is then expected to move across central and northern Florida into southern Georgia Thursday and Thursday night." They also said "Some strengthening is expected during the next day or so, and Nicole is forecast to become a hurricane later tonight and remain a hurricane when it reaches the east coast of Florida."

YESTERDAY (Monday):

The National Hurricane Center released the first advisory for a subtropical storm at 4 am yesterday (Monday). Weathercasters issued a storm surge warning and a tropical storm warning for the Florida east coast.

CHANGES WITH THIS ADVISORY:

The Storm Surge Watch has been extended west along the Florida panhandle from the Ochlockonee River to Indian Pass.

SUMMARY OF WATCHES AND WARNINGS IN EFFECT:

A Hurricane Warning is in effect for:

- The Abacos, Berry Islands, Bimini, and Grand Bahama Island in the northwestern Bahamas

- Boca Raton to Flagler/Volusia County Line Florida

A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for:

- Andros Island, New Providence, and Eleuthera in the northwestern Bahamas

- Hallandale Beach Florida to Boca Raton Florida

- Flagler/Volusia County Line Florida to Altamaha Sound Georgia

- Lake Okeechobee

A Storm Surge Warning is in effect for:

- North Palm Beach Florida to Altamaha Sound Georgia

- Mouth of the St. Johns River to Georgetown Florida

A Hurricane Watch is in effect for:

- Hallandale Beach to Boca Raton Florida

- Lake Okeechobee

- Flagler/Volusia County Line to Ponte Vedra Beach

A Storm Surge Watch is in effect for:

- South of North Palm Beach to Hallandale Beach Florida

- Altamaha Sound Georgia to South Santee River South Carolina

- Anclote River Florida to Indian Pass Florida

A Tropical Storm Watch is in effect for:

- South of Hallandale Beach to north of Ocean Reef Florida

- North of Bonita Beach to the Ochlockonee River Florida

- North of Altamaha Sound Georgia to South Santee River South Carolina.

A Hurricane Warning means that hurricane conditions are expected somewhere within the warning area. A warning is typically issued 36 hours before the anticipated first occurrence of tropical-storm-force winds, conditions that make outside preparations difficult or dangerous. Preparations to protect life and property should be rushed to completion.

A Tropical Storm Warning means that tropical storm conditions are expected somewhere within the warning area within 36 hours.

A Storm Surge Warning means there is a danger of life-threatening inundation, from rising water moving inland from the coastline, in the indicated locations. For a depiction of areas at risk, please see the National Weather Service Storm Surge Watch/Warning Graphic, available at hurricanes.gov. This is a life-threatening situation. Persons located within these areas should take all necessary actions to protect life and property from rising water and the potential for other dangerous conditions. Promptly follow evacuation and other instructions from local officials.

A Storm Surge Watch means there is a possibility of life- threatening inundation, from rising water moving inland from the coastline, in the indicated locations during the next 48 hours. For a depiction of areas at risk, please see the National Weather Service Storm Surge Watch/Warning Graphic, available at hurricanes.gov.

A Hurricane Watch means that hurricane conditions are possible within the watch area. A watch is typically issued 48 hours before the anticipated first occurrence of tropical-storm-force winds, conditions that make outside preparations difficult or dangerous.

A Tropical Storm Watch means that tropical storm conditions are possible within the watch area, generally within 48 hours.

Interests in the remainder of Florida and along the southeastern coast of the United States should monitor the progress of Nicole. Additional watches or warnings may be required on Wednesday.

HAZARDS AFFECTING LAND:

WIND: Hurricane conditions are expected in the northwestern Bahamas within the hurricane warning area on Wednesday, with tropical storm conditions beginning across all of the northwestern Bahamas tonight. Hurricane conditions are expected within the hurricane warning area along the east coast of Florida Wednesday night or Thursday morning with tropical storm conditions expected by tonight or early Wednesday within the tropical storm and hurricane warning areas. Hurricane conditions are possible within the hurricane watch area on Wednesday night and Thursday. Tropical storm conditions are possible within the watch area along the west coast of Florida by Wednesday night.

STORM SURGE: The combination of a dangerous storm surge and the tide will cause normally dry areas near the coast to be flooded by rising waters moving inland from the shoreline. The water could reach the following heights above ground somewhere in the indicated areas if the peak surge occurs at the time of high tide...

* North Palm Beach Florida to Altamaha Sound Georgia including the St. Johns River to the Fuller Warren Bridge...3 to 5 ft * Altamaha Sound Georgia to the South Santee River South Carolina...2 to 4 ft * St. Johns River south of the Fuller Warren Bridge to Georgetown Florida...2 to 4 ft * Hallandale Beach to North Palm Beach...2 to 4 ft * Anclote River to Indian Pass...2 to 4 ft * Englewood to Anclote River including Tampa Bay...1 to 3 ft * North of Ocean Reef to Hallandale Beach including Biscayne Bay...1 to 2 ft

Storm surge could raise water levels by as much as 4 to 6 feet above normal tide levels along the immediate coast of the northwestern Bahamas in areas of onshore winds.

The deepest water will occur along the immediate coast near and to the north of the landfall location, where the surge will be accompanied by large and destructive waves. Surge-related flooding depends on the relative timing of the surge and the tidal cycle, and can vary greatly over short distances.

RAINFALL: Nicole is expected to produce the following rainfall amounts through Friday:

Northwest Bahamas into the eastern, central and northern portions of the Florida Peninsula: 3 to 5 inches with local maxima of 8 inches.

Southeast into the southern and central Appalachians, western Mid Atlantic, and eastern portions of Tennessee, Kentucky, and Ohio: 2 to 4 inches with local maxima of 6 inches along the Blue Ridge.

Flash and urban flooding will be likely, along with possible renewed river rises on the St. Johns River, across the Florida Peninsula on Wednesday and Thursday. Heavy rainfall from this system will spread north farther up the Eastern Seaboard late Thursday into Friday.

TORNADOES: Isolated tornadoes will be possible from eastern Florida into parts of eastern Georgia and eastern South Carolina beginning late Wednesday night and continuing through Friday.

SURF: Large swells generated by Nicole will affect the northwestern Bahamas, the east coast of Florida, and much of the southeastern United States coast during the next several days. These swells are likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions.

Source: National Hurricane Center

This article was generated by the Miami Herald Bot, artificial intelligence software that analyzes information from the National Hurricane Center and applies it to templates created by journalists in the newsroom. We are experimenting with this and other new ways of providing more useful content to our readers and subscribers. You can report errors or bugs to mcclatchybot@mcclatchy.com. Full hurricane coverage at miamiherald.com/news/weather/hurricane/