U.S. authorities have issued a warning for the east coast of the state of Florida for the upcoming arrival of subtropical storm ‘Nicole’, an unusual phenomenon outside the hurricane season.
The storm could strengthen to hurricane strength later this week, according to the U.S. National Hurricane Center based in Florida.
Nicole’ strengthened Monday east of the Bahamas Islands and meteorologists warn of «a dangerous rebound» that could bring heavy rains to a state of Florida that is still recovering from the recent passage of Hurricane Ian in September.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has declared a state of emergency in half of the territory’s counties. «It looks like the storm is going to get much stronger. I urge all Floridians to prepare and watch for announcements from local emergency management authorities,» he said, according to the U.S. public radio network NPR.
The storm is currently generating sustained winds of about 70 kilometers per hour and could become a hurricane by Wednesday night and make landfall between West Palm Beach and Miami on Wednesday or early Thursday.
