(NSF/TALLAHASSEE, FL/Nov. 8, 2022) — A large part of Florida’s East Coast was put under a hurricane warning Tuesday as Tropical Storm Nicole is expected to hit the state this week. The National Hurricane Center issued a hurricane warning from Boca Raton to the border of Flagler and Volusia counties, while a hurricane watch was issued north to Ponte Vedra Beach.
“With the system taking on more tropical characteristics, strengthening is likely over the next 48 hours as the system nears the East Coast of Florida,” Kelly Godsey, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service said Tuesday morning. “It is expected to make landfall as a Category 1 hurricane along the East Coast of Florida.”
Gov. Ron DeSantis issued an executive order Monday declaring a state of emergency in 34 counties.
A storm-surge warning was in effect from North Palm Beach up the coast into Georgia.
A Tuesday morning storm track indicated Nicole would approach the East Coast on Wednesday night before moving across Central Florida and North Florida and heading into South Georgia by Thursday night. Nicole has developed after the Category 4 Hurricane Ian made landfall Sept. 28 in Southwest Florida and caused widespread damage as it crossed the state.
“Just because we are looking at a Category 1 hurricane, versus what we saw back in September with Ian as a Category 4 hurricane, we don’t want to let our guard down on the East Coast,” Godsey said. “Hurricanes bring destructive winds. They bring destructive storm surge. They bring the potential for flash flooding and tornadoes as well.”
News Service of Florida