Hurricane Nicole Makes Landfall Off East Coast Of Florida And Races Up The Northeast

Hurricane Nicole reportedly made landfall along Florida's east coast after sweeping through the Bahamas on Thursday. Nov. 10.

Tropical storm Nicole arrived ashore over Great Abaco Island in the Bahamas with maximum winds of 70 mph. After sweeping through the Bahamas, Nicole strengthened to a Category 1 hurricane and made landfall along Florida's east coast early Thursday, USA Today reported.

According to the National Hurricane Center, radar imagery showed that the center of the storm made landfall on North Hutchinson Island, just south of Vero Beach. The hurricane center added that Nicole will bring strong winds, a dangerous storm surge, and heavy rains as it approaches eastern Florida.

Nicole is now a Category 1 hurricane after sweeping through the Bahamas. Category 1 hurricanes sustain dangerous winds from 74 to 95 mph, and can produce some damage to homes, trees, and powerlines, CNN reported.

Hurricane Nicole comes just after Hurricane Ian walloped the Southwest Florida coast on Sept. 28 as a Category 4 hurricane and killed at least 109 people.

As a precaution against the hurricane, the residents in several Florida counties including Flagler, Palm Beach, Martin, and Volusia were ordered to evacuate barrier islands, low-lying areas, and mobile homes. Meanwhile, Volusia, home to Daytona Beach, imposed a curfew and warned that intercoastal bridges used by evacuees would close when winds reach 39 mph.

Around 400 people checked in evacuation centers in Palm Beach County. According to the officials, at least half a dozen multi-story, coastal residential buildings in Daytona Beach Shores that were already damaged by Hurricane Ian are being threatened by Nicole.

After making landfall in the U.S., Nicole's center is forecast to move across central and northern Florida into southern Georgia on Thursday and then into the Carolinas on Friday.

Hurricane Nicole is on the path to becoming the first hurricane to make landfall in the United States in November after 40 years.

Nicole is expected to weaken while moving across Florida and the southeastern United States and become a post-tropical cyclone by Friday night over the mid-Atlantic states.