Florida braces for Tropical Storm Nicole that could become hurricane before Wednesday’s arrival

Evacuation orders went into effect Wednesday in Florida as residents of the Bahamas fled their homes with Tropical Storm Nicole growing closer.

Forecasts said Nicole would hit the Bahamas on Wednesday before striking the southeastern United States, with the storm threatening to strengthen into a hurricane.

Unleashing wind speeds of 70 miles per hour, Nicole was just 60 miles away from the Bahamas’ Great Abaco as of 7 a.m. Wednesday. It was less than 250 miles east of West Palm Beach, Fla., which has more than 100,000 residents.

“There have always been storms, but as the planet warms from carbon emissions, storms are growing in intensity and frequency,” Bahamas Prime Minister Philip Brave Davis said.

The last storm to make landfall in the Bahamas was the Category 5 Hurricane Dorian, one of the strongest hurricanes ever, causing massive destruction including to thousands of homes.

“For those in Grand Bahama and Abaco, I know it is especially difficult for you to face another storm,” Davis said.

Nicole is expected to hit Florida by Wednesday night and Georgia by Thursday.

The evacuation orders in Florida covered the Palm Beach, Volusia and Flagler counties, urging those living in low areas, barrier islands and mobile homes to leave before Nicole hits, potentially as a Category 1 hurricane.

The storm’s expected arrival comes less than two months after the Category 4 Hurricane Ian killed more than 100 people in Florida and caused catastrophic flooding.

Gov. Ron DeSantis issued a state of emergency Monday for dozens of counties in Florida, including the state’s biggest in Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach.

“While this storm does not, at this time, appear that it will become much stronger, I urge all Floridians to be prepared and to listen to announcements from local emergency management officials,” DeSantis said Monday.

With News Wire Services