CNN’s continuing coverage of Hurricane Nicole can be found here.
Authorities are urging individuals to have multiple ways to receive weather warnings as they go to bed as the threat of tornadoes increases overnight.
Intense rain-bands will move across the east coast of Florida overnight as Hurricane Nicole moves onshore. Embedded within these bands of rain may be quick forming tornadoes, often lasting only a few minutes but strong enough to create damage and threaten lives.
By Thursday morning, the threat extends inland towards the I-301 corridor as the system slides across the Florida Peninsula.
Tropical induced tornadoes are common with landfalling hurricanes as the rain-bands interact with the immediate coastline. The right, front quadrant of the tropical system is where the most likely tornado activity occurs.
Hurricane Nicole is approaching Florida’s east coast, bringing heavy downpours, strong winds and dangerous storm surge Wednesday night.
Radar imagery shows Nicole’s eye moving away from Grand Bahama Island and towards the state, the National Hurricane Center tweeted around 11 p.m. EST.
The powerful storm – packing maximum sustained winds of 75 mph – is churning closer at 13 mph and is about 50 miles northeast of Palm Beach, Florida, according to the Hurricane Center.
On its current forecast track, Nicole’s center is expected to move onshore to Florida’s east coast late Wednesday or early Thursday, according to the hurricane center.
Nicole is expected bring flash and urban flooding as well as large and damaging waves.
“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 the forecast cone,” the Hurricane Center warned. “These hazards will affect much of the Florida peninsula and portions of the southeast US.”
As Hurricane Nicole inches closer to Florida’s east coast, authorities in Fort Lauderdale say the storm surge is flooding its barrier island, making many roadways impassable Wednesday evening.
“The barrier island continues to flood due to the storm surge from the south end to the north end of the city. Traffic operations are impacted and many roadways are impassable,” Fort Lauderdale Police said Wednesday evening on Twitter.
The National Hurricane center has issued several storm surge watches and warnings as Nicole churned toward the state, pushing rising sea water inland from the coastline.
“Attempting to drive during the storm is dangerous and should be avoided,” Fort Lauderdale Police said.
A high tide is expected around 9 p.m. ET, and flooding is already occurring across the area, city of Fort Lauderdale officials said.
After wreaking havoc in northwestern Bahamas Wednesday, Hurricane Nicole is poised to move onshore the east coast of Florida late Wednesday or early Thursday, according to a 10 p.m. update from the National Hurricane Center.
The storm is currently 75 miles east of West Palm Beach, Florida, moving west-northwest at 13 mph, the center said. Nicole has sustained winds of 75 mph.
NHC notes that Nicole will bring “strong winds, dangerous storm surge and heavy rains and that large intense bands extend quite far from the center.” Also, they stress that “Nicole is a large storm whose hazards extend well north of the center, outside the forecast cone.”
Nicole is expected to make landfall in Florida around 1 a.m. ET. The storm is expected to weaken as it moves across Florida into the southeastern US, and is “likely to become a post-tropical cyclone by Friday afternoon,” the center said.
Wind and storm surge from the storm has already led officials to deem buildings unsafe or at the risk of collapse. Universities and amusement parks have also closed operations in preparation for Nicole’s landfall. Airlines canceled thousands of flights to prepare as well.
Gov. Ron DeSantis expanded his state of emergency – originally for 34 counties – to include 11 additional counties to prepare for Nicole.
As Hurricane Nicole approaches, upcoming high tides and coastal erosion are a big concern in Volusia County at this hour, according to Kevin Captain, Volusia spokesperson.
Volusia County officials deemed 22 single homes unsafe in the unincorporated area Wilbur-by-the-Sea. All of the homes were evacuated.
“Those buildings that were deemed unsafe are directly correlated to some of the coastal erosion that we’ve experienced,” he said, acknowledging that Hurricane Ian left the coast vulnerable when it struck six weeks ago.
Captain said about 60 individuals were in county shelters.
He urged people to stay off the beach, referencing a tourist who died during Hurricane Ian when she went outside, fell and drowned on the beach.
Volusia County officials expect the damage assessment to begin tomorrow.
Authorities in New Smyrna Beach are asking residents this evening to evacuate condo buildings that have been deemed unsafe due to the erosion of a sea wall.
“The Las Brisas condo buildings (3001 Hill Street) that are facing the beach are now deemed unsafe by the NSB building department due to the erosion of the sea wall. Residents are urged to evacuate. NSBPD is currently on scene offering assistance,” a post from the New Smyrna Police on Facebook said.
CNN has reached out to New Smyrna Beach officials to get more details.
City officials later said they identified at least two buildings that are now deemed unsafe as Hurricane Nicole approaches the east coast of Florida.
“The City of New Smyrna Beach’s chief building official has deemed the two easterly oceanfront buildings of Las Brisas condominiums, 3001 Hill St., unsafe due to the dune washing up to within 10 feet of the structure,” the city said in a news release Wednesday evening.
The city went on to say “New Smyrna Beach Police Department officers arrived on scene at 5:45 p.m. to notify residents and assist them in evacuating the premises, which most safely did.”
The city has also issued a curfew which is in effect until 7 a.m. ET. City officials are closing the North and South Causeway bridges at 8 p.m. ET.
New Smyrna Beach is located in Volusia County and is about 11 miles south of Daytona Beach Shores.
Other buildings in Florida are at risk of collapsing as Hurricane Nicole nears, officials say.
In Daytona Beach Shores, authorities said at least six buildings were deemed at risk of structural collapse Wednesday. Five others were previously evacuated due to risk of collapse, according to Michael Fowler, Daytona Beach Shores Public Safety Department director.
Nicole remains a Category 1 hurricane with sustained winds of 75 mph, according to the latest update from the National Hurricane Center. The hurricane continues to bring dangerous storm surge and strong winds to Grand Bahama Island, the hurricane center said.
A storm surge of 4 to 6 feet is expected along the immediate coast of the northwestern Bahamas as Nicole continues to track over the islands.
Nicole continues to track west at 13 mph and is 20 miles east-northeast of Freeport, Bahamas, and 100 miles west of Palm Beach, Florida.
“Little change in strength is expected this evening, and Nicole is forecast to remain a hurricane until it reaches the east coast of Florida tonight or early Thursday,” the hurricane center said.
As Hurricane Nicole makes its way toward Florida as a Category 1 hurricane, colleges and universities across the state are closing and canceling classes.
Florida State University, the University of Florida, the University of Central Florida, and the University of North Florida will close on Thursday, November 10.
The University of South Florida will move all classes remotely on Thursday, and the campus will remain closed.
Authorities in Daytona Beach Shores fear that at least six buildings in their city are at risk of collapse as Hurricane Nicole approaches the coast.
At least six buildings were deemed at risk of structural collapse Wednesday, Daytona Beach Shores Public Safety Department Director Michael Fowler told CNN.
Fowler noted these buildings had sustained damage during Hurricane Ian and beach erosion is undermining the buildings.
Previously, Fowler said there were five other buildings that were evacuated due to the risk of collapse, which was the result of Hurricane Ian.
In total, 11 buildings are at risk of collapse.
Daytona Beach Shores is located in Volusia County.
A flood warning is in effect until further notice for the St. Johns River near Astor and Deland in Florida, according to the National Weather Service office in Melbourne.
“The forecast point at Astor is rising quickly due to north to northeast winds causing a backup of levels at the southern end of Lake George,” the weather service said. “The forecast point at Deland is currently rising quickly due to a combination of northeast winds and 1 to 2 inches of rainfall that has already fallen associated with Hurricane Nicole.”
The river gauge at Astor is quickly approaching major flood stage (4 feet) and is forecast to crest at 4.2 feet early Thursday morning. At 4 feet, “major flooding occurs, with water entering the first story of many homes and businesses along the river,” according to the weather service. “Some roads inaccessible and rescues likely needed.”
The river gauge at DeLand is quickly approaching moderate flood stage (4.8 feet) and is forecast to crest around 4.9 feet on Friday. At 4.8 feet, “water starts to enter low lying buildings around Hontoon Island,” according to the weather service. “Many secondary roads and homes in low lying areas are flooded.”
Both of these river gauges along the St. Johns River have been in flood stage since Hurricane Ian brought flooding rains to the region just six weeks ago.
Nicole has now strengthened into a Category 1 hurricane and has sustained winds of 75 mph, according to the latest update from the National Hurricane Center.
“Recent observations from a NOAA Hurricane Hunter aircraft indicate that Nicole has strengthened into a hurricane,” the center said.
The storm is currently 25 miles east-northeast of Freeport, Bahamas, and 105 miles to the east of West Palm Beach, Florida. Hurricane Nicole continues to track westward at 12 mph toward Florida’s east coast with an expected landfall after midnight.
Authorities in Nassau County, Florida, held a news conference Wednesday afternoon to inform residents of the evacuation orders for portions of the county in anticipation of impacts from Tropical Storm Nicole.
The evacuation orders were issued for residents who reside in Zones A and D, Nassau County Sheriff Bill Leeper said at the news conference.
Zone A includes Amelia Island beaches and low areas, according to the county evacuation plan. Zone D includes the areas of Nassauville, Blackrock, Pirates Woods and Chester, according to the county evacuation plan.
Nassau County is in the northeast corner of Florida along the Atlantic Ocean and Interstate 95, north of Jacksonville.
The South Carolina Emergency Management Division is alerting residents and visitors to prepare for likely impacts from Tropical Storm Nicole later this week.
Residents “should monitor Tropical Storm Nicole, which could affect many parts of the state after making landfall along (the) east coast of Florida. Forecasters with the National Weather Service and the National Hurricane Center believe South Carolina could experience periods of heavy rain, gusty winds, tornadoes and storm surge due to Tropical Storm Nicole, with the greatest impacts beginning Thursday and lasting into Friday,” SCEMD said in a Wednesday news release.
The agency is also asking residents to have their emergency plans in place.
The agency said it is working with local and state agencies in preparation for Nicole.
Jorge Morales and Karla Llanes, who both own Nini’s Cuban Restaurant, were putting up the last storm panel on their business Wednesday afternoon in Melbourne, Florida, as they prepared for Tropical Storm Nicole.
The storm is expected to hit Florida Wednesday as a Category 1 hurricane.
“We are trying to do everything possible (to prepare) right now,” Llanes said. “We have a generator.”
Power remained her biggest concern because it could result in loss of business.
“We know it’s going to be out because of the winds,” Llanes said.
Brevard County has four shelters open right now. Rachel Horst, Brevard County spokesperson, tells CNN there are about 30 individuals at the shelters. Horst also emphasized the county does not close causeways before a storm to give residents every opportunity to evacuate.
As Tropical Storm Nicole tracks closer to Florida’s east coast, authorities in St. Lucie County will close bridges that connect to the barrier islands.
“Due to deteriorating conditions, the bridges to the barrier islands will close at 4:00 p.m. today,” St. Lucie County Sheriff Ken Mascara said in a statement on Twitter.
The sheriff’s department also said that the storm surge from Nicole had breached a sea wall in the county.
“The storm surge from Tropical Storm Nicole has breached the sea wall along Indian River Drive … Barricades will be in place through the duration of this storm. Please use alternate routes,” the St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office said in a tweet on Wednesday afternoon.
Nicole is still a tropical storm, according to the 4 p.m. ET update from the National Hurricane Center, maintaining top sustained winds of 70 mph as it moves across the northern Bahamas.
The storm is “bringing a dangerous storm surge and strong winds to Grand Bahama Island,” the center said in the advisory.
Tropical Storm Nicole’s center is about 135 miles from West Palm Beach, Florida, at 4 p.m. EST, moving toward the west at 13 mph.
Nicole is still expected to strengthen into a hurricane – its wind speeds only need to increase by 4 mph – before the storm makes landfall in Florida overnight.
“Nicole still has about 12 hours in which to strengthen,” the center said. “Given the slightly improved inner core structure and the warm waters of the Gulf Stream that Nicole will be traversing, the forecast still calls for the cyclone to reach hurricane status before reaching the east coast of Florida.”
Wind gusts of over 60 mph on Abaco Island and over 50 mph on Grand Bahama Island have been observed in recent hours.
Krista Goodrich captured video of damage to a property she manages in Wilbur-By-The-Sea, Florida, on Wednesday afternoon, as Tropical Storm Nicole’s winds started to hit Florida’s east coast.
Goodrich told CNN the owner of the house was in his backyard enjoying drinks with his friends Tuesday night, and by Wednesday morning the entire area was gone.
“Last night we still had about 30 feet of backyard,” Goodrich said, “This morning it was all gone and parts of the properties nearby were collapsing into the ocean.”
The owner of the house has since evacuated along with all the furniture and belongings inside, Goodrich said. She hopes the property will withstand the storm but fully expects it to be completely gone.
See Goodrich’s videos below:
Shaw Schofield captured scenes from Daytona Beach Wednesday as waves and strong wind led to the partial collapse of a building ahead of Tropical Storm Nicole making landfall in Florida.
See Schofield’s photos and videos below:
Airlines are canceling thousands of flights ahead of Tropical Storm Nicole.
Data from flight tracking site FlightAware shows as of 2 p.m. ET, carriers in the US have canceled more than 900 Wednesday flights and another 1,000 flights on Thursday.
Orlando International Airport tops cancelations nationwide. The airport says “commercial operations will cease” as of 4 p.m. ET Wednesday. Images tweeted from the airport’s verified account show jet bridges tied down and ticket counters covered in plastic.
American, Delta, Southwest, and United Airlines have all issued travel waivers allowing impacted passengers to rebook their flights free of charge.
Southwest Airlines, which operates heavily in Florida, “has trimmed operations at a number of airports we serve in Florida,” including stopping flights into and out of Palm Beach.
“As of now, we plan to resume operations, as weather and infrastructure permit, at those airports tomorrow,” Southwest said in a statement.
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