Photo: NHC
Hurricane Nicole is approaching Florida's east coast with strong winds, heavy rains and a dangerous storm surge.
At 10 p.m., the National Hurricane Center reports Nicole is about 75 miles east-northeast of West Palm Beach and moving west-northwest at 13 miles per hour. Maximum sustained winds remain at 75 miles per hour and little change in strength is expected before the storm makes landfall, likely in the Treasure Coast area during the overnight hours.
A Hurricane Warning remains in effect for all of Palm Beach County and the Treasure Coast, extending through Volusia County.
The Hurricane Watch that was in effect from Hallandale Beach to Boca Raton has been discontinued.
SUMMARY OF 1000 PM EST...0300 UTC...INFORMATION
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LOCATION...27.0N 78.9W
ABOUT 20 MI...35 KM NNE OF SETTLEMENT POINT GRAND BAHAMA ISLAND
ABOUT 75 MI...125 KM ENE OF WEST PALM BEACH FLORIDA
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...75 MPH...120 KM/H
PRESENT MOVEMENT...WNW OR 285 DEGREES AT 13 MPH...20 KM/H
MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...980 MB...28.94 INCHES
WATCHES AND WARNINGS
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CHANGES WITH THIS ADVISORY:
The Hurricane Watch from Hallandale Beach to Boca Raton has been
discontinued.
SUMMARY OF WATCHES AND WARNINGS IN EFFECT:
A Hurricane Warning is in effect for...
* The Abacos, Berry Islands, and Grand Bahama Island in the
northwestern Bahamas
* Boca Raton to Flagler/Volusia County Line Florida
A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for...
* Bimini in the northwestern Bahamas
* Hallandale Beach Florida to Boca Raton Florida
* Flagler/Volusia County Line Florida to South Santee River South
Carolina
* North of Bonita Beach to Indian Pass Florida
* Lake Okeechobee
A Storm Surge Warning is in effect for...
* North Palm Beach Florida to Altamaha Sound Georgia
* Mouth of the St. Johns River to Georgetown Florida
* Anclote River Florida to Ochlockonee River Florida
A Hurricane Watch is in effect for...
* Lake Okeechobee
A Storm Surge Watch is in effect for...
* Ochlockonee River to Indian Pass Florida
* South of North Palm Beach to Hallandale Beach Florida
* Altamaha Sound Georgia to South Santee River South Carolina
Interests in the remainder of Florida and along the southeastern
coast of the United States should monitor the progress of Nicole.
DISCUSSION AND OUTLOOK
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At 1000 PM EST (0300 UTC), the center of Hurricane Nicole was
located near latitude 27.0 North, longitude 78.9 West. Nicole is
moving toward the west-northwest near 13 mph (20 km/h). A turn
toward the northwest is expected on Thursday, followed by a turn
toward the north and north-northeast on Friday. On the forecast
track, the center of Nicole will move onshore the east coast of
Florida within the hurricane warning area late tonight or early
Thursday. Nicole's center is then expected to move across central
and northern Florida into southern Georgia Thursday and Thursday
night, and into the Carolinas Friday.
Maximum sustained winds are near 75 mph (120 km/h) with higher
gusts. Little change in strength is expected until Nicole makes
landfall along the Florida east coast. Nicole is expected to
weaken while moving across Florida and the southeastern United
States Thursday through Friday, and it is likely to become a
post-tropical cyclone by Friday afternoon.
Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 25 miles (35 km) from the
center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 485 miles
(780 km), especially to the north of the center. A WeatherFlow
station at Juno Beach Pier recently reported a wind gust of 55 mph
(89 km/h), and a C-MAN station at Settlement Point on Grand Bahama
Island recently reported a wind gust of 55 mph (89 km/h).
The estimated minimum central pressure is 980 mb (28.94 inches).