Nicole is strengthening while it is moving near the NW Bahamas and approaching Florida

Subtropical Storm Nicole is forecast to be near or at hurricane strength by Wednesday and Wednesday night while it is moving near the northwestern Bahamas and approaching the east coast of Florida.

🌀 At 12.00 UTC, the center of Subtropical Storm Nicole was about 385 miles (615 km) east-northeast of the northwestern Bahamas. Nicole is moving toward the west-northwest near 8 mph (13 km/h).
A turn toward the west and west-southwest is forecast today and tonight, and that motion should continue through Wednesday.
A turn toward the northwest and north-northwest is expected Thursday and Thursday night.

🌊 The combination of a dangerous storm surge and the tide will cause normally dry areas near the coast to be flooded by rising waters moving inland from the shoreline.
Storm surge could raise water levels by as much as 4 to 6 feet above normal tide levels along the immediate coast of the northwestern Bahamas in areas of onshore winds.
Large swells generated by Nicole will affect the northwestern Bahamas, the east coast of Florida and much of the southeastern
United States coast during the next several days.
These swells are likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions.

➡️ On the forecast track, the center of Nicole will approach the northwestern Bahamas today and tonight, move near or over those islands on Wednesday, and approach the east coast of Florida Wednesday night.
Nicole’s center is then expected to move across central and northern Florida into southern Georgia Thursday and Thursday night.
Hurricane conditions are expected in the northwestern Bahamas within the hurricane warning area on Wednesday, with tropical storm conditions beginning across all of the northwestern Bahamas by
tonight.
Hurricane conditions are possible within the hurricane
watch area along the east coast of Florida by Wednesday night with tropical storm conditions expected by tonight or early Wednesday.

📸 Credits: NOAA, Weathermodels.com and Weathernerds.org