Subtropical Storm Nicole, which formed early Monday morning, could reach hurricane strength or possibly become a hurricane by midweek, according to the National Hurricane Center, as it approaches the northwest of the Bahamas and then southeast of Florida. latest advisory.
Forecasters say Nicole is a ‘big storm’ that is expected to move over or near the Bahamas on Wednesday, and approach the east coast of Florida on Wednesday evening. Last estimate on Monday maximum sustained winds this week could reach 70 mph, just 4 mph under threshold for Category 1 hurricane.
“Is not out of question for Nicole achieve hurricane strength, especially considering how warm waters in neighborhood of Bahamas,” experts said early Monday morning.
Tropical storm hours were in effect early monday for northwestern Bahamas, Grand Bahama, Bimini and nearby islands. The National Hurricane Center said it could issue additional warnings later on Monday for central Bahamas and parts thereof of southeast Florida.
As of 5 am on a Monday, Nicole was maximum steady winds of 45 miles per hour and was moving north- to the northwest at a speed of 14 miles per hour. It is forecast to turn to the northwest on Monday, then to the west or west-southwest from Tuesday to Thursday morning.
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“There is an increase risk of coastal flooding, tropical storms, force winds, heavy rains, surf storm, and beach erosion along many of southeast coast of the United States, east coast of Florida and parts of central and northwestern Bahamas, beginning in early and middle part of this week,” the hurricane center said. on Sunday.
On Election Day Tuesday, South Florida voters are likely to begin feeling the effect system brings moisture up from the Caribbean.
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Barry Baxter, meteorologist for The Miami National Weather Service urged South Florida residents to remain vigilant.
“Technically we are still in hurricane season to end of this month,” he said. “So don’t let your guard down just because it in November. This time we rarely get them of year, but we can still get them.”
Forecasters also observation of the storm area of low pressure located 650 m to the east of Bermuda early Monday morning. Forecasters said it could turn into a short-term tropical depression or tropical storm as early as today before upper-level winds and a cold front interfere with it.
system near Bermuda was 60% chance of development in in next two to five days, according to the hurricane center, down from 70% on Sunday.
There have been two major Category 3 or higher hurricanes this season: Fiona and Yan.
next the named storm that will form will be Owen.
NOAA predicts at least four more hurricanes will form before the official end of the hurricane season on November 30th.