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A hurricane watch has been issued for much of Florida’s eastern coast, as officials warned of heavy rainfall and a storm surge from Subtropical Storm Nicole, an unusual, late-season system that could reach hurricane intensity later this week.
On Monday, as the storm collected strength east of the Bahamas, officials warned of a «dangerous storm surge» of up to 5 feet and heavy rainfall that could affect parts of Florida still recovering from Hurricane Ian, the Category 4 storm that battered much of the state in September.
In Florida, the hurricane watch extends from the Volusia-Brevard county line east of Orlando south to Hallandale Beach, between Fort Lauderdale and Miami. The watch also covers Lake Okeechobee and the northern Bahamas.
On Monday, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis declared a state of emergency for half of the state’s counties.
