Subtropical Storm Nicole has formed and is expected to impact Florida over the coming days
According to the 5 a.m. advisory from the National Hurricane Center, Nicole is located 555 miles east of the Bahamas and has maximum sustained winds of 45 miles per hour, moving north-northwest at 14 miles per hour.
Subtropical Storm Nicole, which formed early Monday, could be near hurricane strength, or possibly a hurricane, by midweek as it nears the northwestern Bahamas and then southeast Florida, according to the National Hurricane Centers latest advisory.
SUMMARY OF 800 AM AST...1200 UTC...INFORMATION ---------------------------------------------- LOCATION...25.9N 69.1W ABOUT 520 MI...835 KM E OF THE NORTHWESTERN BAHAMAS MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...45 MPH...75 KM/H PRESENT MOVEMENT...NNW OR 330 DEGREES AT 14 MPH...22 KM/H MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...1002 MB...29.58 INCHES
Forecasters say Nicole is “a large storm” that is expected to move over or near the Bahamas Wednesday, and approach Florida’s east coast Wednesday night. Latest estimates Monday said its maximum sustained winds this week could to reach 70 mph, just 4 mph under the threshold for a Category 1 hurricane.
At 800 AM AST (1200 UTC), the center of Subtropical Storm Nicole was located by NOAA Hurricane Hunters near latitude 25.9 North, longitude 69.1 West. Nicole is moving toward the north-northwest near 14 mph (22 km/h). A turn toward the northwest with a decrease in forward speed is expected later today. A westward or west-southwestward motion is forecast Tuesday through early Thursday. On the forecast track, the center of Nicole will approach the northwestern Bahamas on Tuesday, move near or over those islands on Wednesday, and approach the east coast of Florida by Wednesday night. Maximum sustained winds are near 45 mph (75 km/h) with higher gusts. Gradual strengthening is forecast during the next few days, and Nicole could be near or at hurricane intensity by Wednesday or Wednesday night while it is moving near the northwestern Bahamas. Winds of 40 mph or greater extend outward up to 275 miles (445 km) to the east of the center. The estimated minimum central pressure recently measured by the NOAA Hurricane Hunters is 1002 mb (29.58 inches).
A tropical storm watch was in effect early Monday for the northwestern Bahamas, Grand Bahama, Bimini and surrounding islands. The National Hurricane Center said it may issue additional warnings later Monday for the central Bahamas and parts of southeast Florida.
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