Subtropical Storm Nicole updates: Could become a hurricane as it approaches Florida

Tropical storm and storm surge warnings are now in effect along Florida’s east coast as Subtropical Storm Nicole heads toward the state, according to the National Weather Service.

The NWS warned Monday that Nicole could be as strong as a hurricane when it approaches Florida’s east coast later this week.

The storm could impact election week in the Sunshine State, where Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis is running against Democratic rival Charlie Crist and Rep. Val Demings, D-Fla., is trying to unseat Sen. Marco Rubio, R- Fla.

DeSantis declared a state of emergency in 34 counties.

“Although this storm does not appear, at this time, to be getting much stronger, I urge all Floridians to be prepared,” he said in a statement. “We will continue to monitor the track and strength of this storm as it heads into Florida.”

Florida Power & Light is urging customers to prepare for power outages and activated its emergency response plan ahead of Nicole’s potential impact on the state this week.

“[Hurricane] Ian has saturated the ground and weakened trees in many areas of the state, so Nicole could cause downed trees and other vegetation and debris to blow into overhead power lines and equipment, which could cause outages,” Eric Silagy, president and CEO of FPL, said in a statement.

Nicole formed Monday in the southwest Atlantic Ocean, becoming the 14th named storm of the 2022 Atlantic hurricane season, which ends this month. Nicole’s center will approach the northwest Bahamas on Tuesday, move near or over those islands on Wednesday, then approach eastern Florida on Wednesday evening, according to the National Weather Service.

Currently, Nicole exerts maximum sustained winds of around 45 miles per hour, with higher gusts. Winds of 40 mph or more extend outward up to 275 miles east of the storm’s center.

“Gradual strengthening is forecast over the next few days, and Nicole could be near or at hurricane intensity by Wednesday or Wednesday evening as it moves near the northwest Bahamas,” said the National Weather Service in a public advisory released Monday morning.

A tropical storm watch is now in effect for the northwestern Bahamas.

Tropical storm conditions are possible in the northwest Bahamas by Tuesday evening or early Wednesday. According to the National Weather Service, a storm surge could raise water levels up to 3 to 5 feet above normal tide levels along the coast in areas with onshore winds.

Nicole is expected to produce between 2 and 4 inches of rain in the northwest Bahamas from Tuesday through Thursday, with a maximum of 6 inches of localized rain. The storm is expected to bring “heavy rainfall” to parts of Florida and the southeastern United States by the middle or end of the week, the National Weather Service said.

Between 4 and 7 inches of precipitation is possible along the east coast from Florida to the Carolinas. Tropical storm-force winds of 60 to 70 mph are also forecast, depending on how strong Nicole is. The storm could lead to beach erosion, choppy waves and rip currents.

Tropical weather systems have the potential to quickly turn into hurricanes, unlike subtropical systems. A subtropical storm usually generates more rain and severe thunderstorms. If a subtropical storm intensifies enough to have hurricane-force winds, then it has become fully tropical. According to the National Weather Service, there are no subtropical hurricanes.