(CMR) Florida is expected to be hit by a Category 1 hurricane later this week as Subtropical Storm Nicole is expected to strengthen as it approaches the Sunshine State's east coast.
This hurricane comes as the state is still trying to recover from Hurricane Ian, which caused devastation in some parts of the state in late September, killing 120 people.
The last hurricane to strike the US in November was Hurricane Kate in 1985. The National Hurricane Center said that a hurricane watch is now in effect along the east coast of Florida, from the Volusia/Brevard county line to Hallandale Beach.
The center of Nicole is expected to approach the northwestern Bahamas on Tuesday, move near or over those islands on Wednesday, and approach the east coast of Florida by Wednesday night.
A storm surge watch has also been issued for parts of Florida and Georgia, from Altamaha Sound to Hallandale Beach. Nicole could drop up to six inches of rain in Florida and push a storm surge up to five feet.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has urged residents to take precautions as the storm heads towards the state.
“I encourage all Floridians to be prepared and make a plan in the event a storm impacts Florida,” DeSantis said in a news release.
He urged residents to prepare for an increased risk of coastal flooding, heavy winds, rain, rip currents, and beach erosion.
The National Weather Service said conditions might deteriorate as early as Tuesday and persist into Thursday night/Friday morning, causing South Florida to experience rip currents, coastal flooding, dangerous surf/marine conditions, flooding rainfall, strong sustained winds, and waterspouts/tornadoes.
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