The state of Florida has issued a warning for Hurricane Nicole, which is potentially expected to hit the East coast of the state in the coming two days. Many areas in South Florida were under surveillance for hurricanes as Hurricane Nicole was forming on Monday morning near the east-northeast of the northwestern Bahamas. The National Hurricane Center, Miami said that the hurricane had acquired a constant wind velocity of 45 mph or 74 km/h and was moving in the northwest direction with a speed of 8 mph or 13 km/h. Because of this, Florida Governor, Ron DeSantis announced a state of emergency in around 34 counties that were expected to be affected if Hurricane Nicole reaches Florida.
At the end of September, the Southwest coast of Florida was struck by Hurricane Ian, which created mass destruction in the region. By the time Hurricane Ian reached Cayo Costa, Florida, it had already reached the destructive power of a Category 5 storm. When Hurricane Ian struck the Southwest coast of Florida it was a Category 4 storm which can have a wind velocity of 130-156 mph. The storm then later lost its intensity and became a category 1 tropical storm before making landfall in South Carolina. Amid all these, the state of Florida suffered from the massive destruction caused by Hurricane Ian. Around four million people in the state suffered from power outages due to massive floods and landslides. It included over 1.1 million homes and businesses. Over 100,000 people are still struggling to get power back in their region.
The state of Florida is still recovering from the destruction caused by Hurricane Ian, but now is being challenged by another potential storm. According to the National Hurricane Center in Miami, the storm is expected to reach the East coast of Florida on Wednesday. It is also being said that the tropical storm will intensify in the coming days and will have the intensity of a hurricane by the time it reaches Florida. As the storm was forming near the northwestern Bahamas, several areas near the region such as Abacos, Berry Islands, Bimini, and Grand Bahama Island, were issued a hurricane warning.
The National Hurricane Center said that due to the warm water around Bahama, Nicole is expected to reach hurricane intensity as it moves toward Florida. The NHC also added that no matter what the intensity of Nicole is, the sheer size of the storm will be enough to cause a significant surge in its wind velocity, rainfall, floods, etc., across many regions around the Bahamas, Florida, and overall southeast coast of the US. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis addressed the public on Monday, stating that although Storm Nicole is expected to have less intensity, it should not be taken lightly and the people of Florida should be prepared and alert to the announcements made by local emergency management officials. He further added that the state officials and NHC will continue to monitor the trajectory and intensity of the storm as it is moving toward Florida.
