Late-Season Storm Nicole Becomes A Hurricane Just Ahead Of Florida Landfall

Topline

Tropical Storm Nicole strengthened into Hurricane Nicole on Wednesday evening over the Bahamas, becoming the eighth hurricane of the 2022 Atlantic season—and a rare late-season storm—just hours ahead of a projected landfall along Florida’s Atlantic coastline, where weather has already started deteriorating.

Key Facts

Nicole’s maximum sustained winds were 75 mph at 7 p.m., making it a Category 1 hurricane, the National Hurricane Center said, and it is expected to maintain that intensity as it makes landfall in central Florida during the overnight hours of early Thursday morning.

Outer rain bands and gusty winds started affecting almost the entire eastern Florida coastline Wednesday, and forecasters are warning hurricane conditions—including a “dangerous storm surge” of up to five feet from North Palm Beach to Altamaha Sound, Georgia—could impact the area shortly.

A hurricane warning is in effect for a massive swath of the coast, from Boca Raton in south Florida to the Flagler/Volusia County line in north Florida, due to the large size of the storm.

Hurricane-force winds are contained to a tiny area extending outward just 10 miles from the center, but tropical storm-force winds reach outward up to 485 miles on Nicole’s north side.

Crucial Quote

“Do not focus on the exact track of Nicole since it is a large storm with hazards extending well to the north of the center, outside of the forecast cone,” the National Hurricane Center said. “These hazards will affect much of the Florida peninsula and portions of the southeast United States.”

What To Watch For

Nicole should quickly weaken after making landfall, but it could briefly reemerge over the Gulf of Mexico on Thursday afternoon before making another landfall as a tropical storm along the eastern Florida panhandle. Remnants of the storm could then pose flood threats across much of Appalachia on Friday.

Key Background

The storm comes very late in hurricane season, which will end November 30. Florida took the biggest hit of the season in late September, when Hurricane Ian made landfall in the southwestern part of the state as a high-end Category 4 storm. Ian caused extensive damage to the area and has been blamed for at least 130 deaths in the state.

Further Reading

Hurricane Ian: These Are The Florida Areas Hardest Hit By The Category 4 Storm (Forbes)