Tropical Storm Nicole Expected to Become Hurricane as it Nears Bahamas

NASSAU, Bahamas – A strengthening Tropical Storm Nicole is expected to become a hurricane on Wednesday as it churns its way towards the northwestern Bahamas with maximum sustained winds of 70 miles per hour (MPH).

Tropical Storm Nicole is expected to become a hurricane on Wednesday. (Satellite image via NOAA)The Miami-based National Hurricane Center (NHC) said that a hurricane warning is in effect for the Abacos, Berry Islands, Bimini, and Grand Bahama Island in the northwestern Bahamas, with the storm now located about 90 miles east of Great Abaco.

“Some strengthening is expected today, and Nicole is forecast to become a hurricane near the northwestern Bahamas and remain a hurricane when it reaches the east coast of Florida tonight.  “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 night over the Mid-Atlantic states,” the NHC said.

It described Nicole as a “large tropical storm” that is moving towards the west-southwest near 13 mph. “A turn toward the west is expected today, followed by a turn toward the northwest on Thursday, and north or north-northeast on Friday. On the forecast track, the center of Nicole will approach the

northwestern Bahamas this morning, move near or over those islands by midday, and approach the east coast of Florida within the hurricane warning area tonight.”

Director of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Captain Stephen Russell told a news conference that 70 per cent of the people who occupied trailers in Abaco have been evacuated.

“I also mentioned that some 100 or more mobile trailers were being occupied by government employees and others in the Marsh Harbour, Abaco (area). And from the report I got… I think...70 percent of the persons adhered to the warning and they are now seeking alternative location,” Captain Russell said.

The authorities said that the evacuation efforts on the islands of Abaco and Grand Bahama have been ongoing and Captain Russell confirmed that 36 of 46 residents had been evacuated out of Sweeting’s Cay, Grand Bahama.

State Minister for Disaster Preparedness, Myles Laroda, told reporters ‘we are hearing about flooding in certain areas, in the Cooper’s Town area,” adding, “those areas probably are going to get worse,” he said.

Laroda urged residents to take the necessary precautions to prepare for Nicole, appealing to people who live in low lying or considered “vulnerable areas” to seek safer ground.

The NHC is warning that storm surges associated with Nicole could raise water levels by as much as six feet above normal tide levels along the immediate coast of the northwestern Bahamas.

It said Nicole is expected to produce high levels of rainfall through Friday night.