10:15 am Update
Nicole is forecast to make landfall in Florida as a hurricane. Still, its impacts, including prolonged coastal flooding, beach erosion, strong winds, high surf, heavy rain, and tornadoes, will impact other parts of the Southeast as well as the mid-Atlantic and Northeast.
Nicole's center is now arriving in the northwest Bahamas with maximum sustained winds of 70 mph.
The large wind field of Nicole means tropical-storm-force winds (39 mph or greater) extend well to the west, north, and east of that center, including to the east coast of Florida, according to the National Hurricane Center analysis below.
Wind gusts over 40 mph are now occurring along and near Florida's Atlantic coast. A few gusts over 50 mph have been reported at Lake Fort Worth Pier and Sewalls Point.
Large, pounding waves and coastal flooding are also impacting much of the Southeast coast. With Wednesday morning's high tide, water levels topped out around 2 feet above normal along Florida's Atlantic coast
A hurricane warning has been issued for areas near Florida's Atlantic coast from Boca Raton to the Flagler - Volusia County line, including Melbourne and Vero Beach. This means hurricane conditions are expected in these areas this evening or tonight.
Tropical storm warnings are in effect for a broad area of southern, central, and northern Florida to portions of the Georgia and South Carolina coasts. Tropical storm conditions are either ongoing or will develop in these areas by later today or tonight.
Cities in the tropical storm warnings include Orlando, Fort Myers, Tampa, and Tallahassee in Florida, Savannah, Georgia and Charleston, South Carolina.
Elsewhere, hurricane and tropical storm warnings remain in effect for the northwest Bahamas. A few locations remain in a tropical storm or hurricane watches in southeast Florida.
A storm surge warning is in effect from North Palm Beach, Florida, to Glynn County, Georgia, as well as a stretch of the St. Johns River in northeast Florida from Georgetown to where it empties into the Atlantic Ocean north of Jacksonville Beach. This means a dangerous, life-threatening surge of water along the coast is expected in these areas.
A storm surge watch extends north of Glynn County, Georgia, to South Santee River, South Carolina, and from south of North Palm Beach, Florida, to Hallandale Beach, Florida, as well as along a part of Florida's Gulf Coast from the Anclote River northward to Indian Pass. This means inundation from storm surges is possible in these areas.
.Sandbags still available in Orange County
From the Orange County Newsroom
Sandbags are still available to residents preparing for the potential impacts of Tropical Storm Nicole. The county’s self-serve sandbag distribution will be open today, Wednesday, November 9, 2022, from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Sites may close early due to weather or if supplies run out before noon.
On Wednesday, November 9, 2022, at 7 a.m., Orange County Government will open two general population shelters for individuals needing to evacuate or seek shelter from Tropical Storm Nicole. Shelter locations include:
South Econ Community Park (Pet friendly)
3850 S Econlockhatchee Trail
Orlando, FL 32829
West Orange Recreation Center (Pet friendly)
309 SW Crown Point Road
Winter Garden, FL 34787
Orange County residents who require a Special Needs/Medical Shelter, please dial 3-1-1 or 407-836-3111. ID cards are not required to enter shelters. Individuals should come prepared with their own supplies and personal hygiene items. For more information on what to bring with you to a shelter, visit ocfl.net/shelters.
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