FLORIDA: Millions of Floridians were in a state of emergency on Tuesday as a subtropical storm headed for the state Atlantic coast, threatening to bring dangerous storm surge to the region over the next two days.
Storm Nicolepacking maximum sustained winds of 50 miles per hour (80 km per hour), was located approximately 385 miles (615 km) northwest of the Bahamas as it moved west toward Florida, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) said in a notice Tuesday morning.
With the storm expected to strengthen throughout the day as it moved at 8 mph toward Florida, some 18 million people along the state’s Atlantic coast were under watch and warnings issued by the NHC.
The region wasn’t directly impacted by Hurricane Ian, but it did receive heavy rain and high winds from the catastrophic storm that killed more than 140 people and caused $60 billion in damage after slamming into the coast from the gulf of the state six weeks ago.
On Monday, the Governor of Florida Ron DeSantis declared a state of emergency for 34 counties along his state’s eastern seaboard, saying it was “with great caution” so area residents and businesses can prepare.
“While this storm does not, at this time, appear to be getting much stronger, I urge all Floridians to be prepared and listen to announcements from local emergency management officials,” DeSantis said in a statement.
On its forecast track, Nicole’s center will approach the northwest Bahamas on Tuesday and move near or over the islands on Wednesday before approaching the east coast of Florida later in the day.
Nicole’s center was then expected to move through central and northern Florida into southern Georgia on Thursday, the NHC said, warning of dangerous storm surge with high winds and heavy rain.
“This is a life-threatening situation,” the service said. “People in these areas should take all necessary steps to protect life and property from rising waters and the potential for other hazardous conditions.”
Storm Nicolepacking maximum sustained winds of 50 miles per hour (80 km per hour), was located approximately 385 miles (615 km) northwest of the Bahamas as it moved west toward Florida, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) said in a notice Tuesday morning.
With the storm expected to strengthen throughout the day as it moved at 8 mph toward Florida, some 18 million people along the state’s Atlantic coast were under watch and warnings issued by the NHC.
The region wasn’t directly impacted by Hurricane Ian, but it did receive heavy rain and high winds from the catastrophic storm that killed more than 140 people and caused $60 billion in damage after slamming into the coast from the gulf of the state six weeks ago.
On Monday, the Governor of Florida Ron DeSantis declared a state of emergency for 34 counties along his state’s eastern seaboard, saying it was “with great caution” so area residents and businesses can prepare.
“While this storm does not, at this time, appear to be getting much stronger, I urge all Floridians to be prepared and listen to announcements from local emergency management officials,” DeSantis said in a statement.
On its forecast track, Nicole’s center will approach the northwest Bahamas on Tuesday and move near or over the islands on Wednesday before approaching the east coast of Florida later in the day.
Nicole’s center was then expected to move through central and northern Florida into southern Georgia on Thursday, the NHC said, warning of dangerous storm surge with high winds and heavy rain.
“This is a life-threatening situation,” the service said. “People in these areas should take all necessary steps to protect life and property from rising waters and the potential for other hazardous conditions.”
