Subtropical Storm Nicole Discussion Number 5 NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL AL172022 400 AM EST Tue Nov 08 2022 Nicole appears to be beginning its transition to a tropical storm, with the low-level center now embedded beneath a relatively small but persistent burst of deep convection. The system still has a broad cloud and wind field, however, with bands of convection extending over 500 n mi to the east of the center, and gale-force winds expanding significantly over the northwestern quadrant. The initial intensity remains 40 kt based on ship and scatterometer observations during the past several hours, and an Air Force Reserve Hurricane Hunter aircraft which measured a peak 925-mb flight-level wind of 52 kt. Nicole's center is just north of NOAA buoy 41047, and that platform indicates that the minimum pressure has fallen to 995 mb. The NOAA buoy and reconnaissance fixes indicate that Nicole's center has taken a northward jog since the previous advisory, and the initial motion remains northwestward, or 310/7 kt. However, a ridge axis to the north should cause Nicole to turn westward and then west-southwestward today and tonight, followed by a recurvature around the western side of an eastward-moving area of high pressure Wednesday through Friday. Because of the recent short-term motion which deviated from the previous forecast track, the track guidance has shifted northward a bit during the next 2-3 days. As a result, the NHC official track forecast has been nudged northward and is closest to the GFS, ECWMF, and HCCA solutions, and just a bit south of the TVCA multi-model consensus. With Nicole's structure beginning to take on more tropical characteristics, strengthening is likely to commence later today. Warm 27-28 degree Celsius waters and a more diffluence upper-level environment are expected to aid this intensification, and the NHC intensity forecast continues to show Nicole near or at hurricane strength as it's moving near the northwestern Bahamas and approaching the east coast of Florida. This forecast is just above the highest intensity guidance, with the HWRF, COAMPS-TC, and HCCA aids showing an intensity of 60-65 kt at 48 hours. Weakening is expected after Nicole moves inland over Florida and accelerates northeastward over the southeastern United States, although the system could still produce tropical-storm-force winds over the adjacent offshore waters. Nicole should be extratropical by day 4 over the Mid-Atlantic U.S., and most of the global models show the circulation dissipating by day 5, with a separate extratropical low forming over northern New England or Quebec. Key Messages: 1. Hurricane conditions and a dangerous storm surge are expected in portions of the northwestern Bahamas on Wednesday, where a Hurricane Warning is in effect. 2. Hurricane conditions are possible across portions of the coast of southeast and east-central Florida beginning late Wednesday or Wednesday night, where a Hurricane Watch is in effect. Tropical storm conditions are expected in the Tropical Storm Warning areas in Florida and Georgia beginning early Wednesday. 3. A dangerous storm surge is expected along much of the east coast of Florida and portions of coastal Georgia where a storm surge warning is in effect. The storm surge will be accompanied by large and damaging waves. Residents in the warning area should listen to advice given by local officials. 4. Do not focus on the exact track of Nicole since it is expected to be a large storm with hazards extending well to the north of the center, outside of the forecast cone. These hazards are likely to affect much of the Florida peninsula and portions of the southeast U.S. 5. Nicole will produce heavy rainfall Wednesday and Thursday across the Florida Peninsula. Flash and urban flooding will be possible across portions of the Florida Peninsula along with renewed river rises on portions of the St. Johns River. Flash, urban and small stream flooding will be possible in southeast Georgia and portions of South Carolina Thursday into Thursday night. FORECAST POSITIONS AND MAX WINDS INIT 08/0900Z 27.6N 71.6W 40 KT 45 MPH...SUBTROPICAL STORM 12H 08/1800Z 27.6N 73.3W 45 KT 50 MPH...TROPICAL STORM 24H 09/0600Z 27.0N 75.4W 55 KT 65 MPH 36H 09/1800Z 26.9N 77.4W 60 KT 70 MPH 48H 10/0600Z 27.6N 79.9W 65 KT 75 MPH 60H 10/1800Z 29.0N 82.2W 45 KT 50 MPH...INLAND 72H 11/0600Z 30.9N 83.1W 35 KT 40 MPH...INLAND 96H 12/0600Z 38.8N 76.1W 35 KT 40 MPH...POST-TROP/EXTRATROP 120H 13/0600Z...DISSIPATED $$ Forecaster Berg Subtropical Storm Nicole Advisory Number 5 NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL AL172022 400 AM EST Tue Nov 08 2022 ...NICOLE FORECAST TO MAKE A TRANSITION TO A TROPICAL STORM AND BEGIN STRENGTHENING LATER TODAY... ...TROPICAL STORM WATCH ISSUED FOR PORTIONS OF THE WEST COAST OF FLORIDA... SUMMARY OF 400 AM EST...0900 UTC...INFORMATION ---------------------------------------------- LOCATION...27.6N 71.6W ABOUT 400 MI...645 KM ENE OF THE NORTHWESTERN BAHAMAS MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...45 MPH...75 KM/H PRESENT MOVEMENT...NW OR 310 DEGREES AT 8 MPH...13 KM/H MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...995 MB...29.39 INCHES WATCHES AND WARNINGS -------------------- CHANGES WITH THIS ADVISORY: A Tropical Storm Watch has been issued for the west coast of Florida north of Bonita Beach to the Ochlockonee River. SUMMARY OF WATCHES AND WARNINGS IN EFFECT: A Hurricane Warning is in effect for... * The Abacos, Berry Islands, Bimini, and Grand Bahama Island in the northwestern Bahamas A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for... * Andros Island, New Providence, and Eleuthera in the northwestern Bahamas * Hallandale Beach Florida to Altamaha Sound Georgia * Lake Okeechobee A Storm Surge Warning is in effect for... * North Palm Beach Florida to Altamaha Sound Georgia * Mouth of the St. Johns River to Georgetown Florida A Hurricane Watch is in effect for... * Hallandale Beach to the Volusia/Brevard County Line Florida * Lake Okeechobee A Storm Surge Watch is in effect for... * South of North Palm Beach to Hallandale Beach Florida A Tropical Storm Watch is in effect for... * South of Hallandale Beach to north of Ocean Reef Florida * North of Bonita Beach to the Ochlockonee River Florida A Hurricane Warning means that hurricane conditions are expected somewhere within the warning area. A warning is typically issued 36 hours before the anticipated first occurrence of tropical-storm-force winds, conditions that make outside preparations difficult or dangerous. Preparations to protect life and property should be rushed to completion. A Tropical Storm Warning means that tropical storm conditions are expected somewhere within the warning area within 36 hours. A Storm Surge Warning means there is a danger of life-threatening inundation, from rising water moving inland from the coastline, in the indicated locations. For a depiction of areas at risk, please see the National Weather Service Storm Surge Watch/Warning Graphic, available at hurricanes.gov. This is a life-threatening situation. Persons located within these areas should take all necessary actions to protect life and property from rising water and the potential for other dangerous conditions. Promptly follow evacuation and other instructions from local officials. A Storm Surge Watch means there is a possibility of life- threatening inundation, from rising water moving inland from the coastline, in the indicated locations during the next 48 hours. For a depiction of areas at risk, please see the National Weather Service Storm Surge Watch/Warning Graphic, available at hurricanes.gov. A Hurricane Watch means that hurricane conditions are possible within the watch area. A watch is typically issued 48 hours before the anticipated first occurrence of tropical-storm-force winds, conditions that make outside preparations difficult or dangerous. A Tropical Storm Watch means that tropical storm conditions are possible within the watch area, generally within 48 hours. Interests in the central Bahamas, the remainder of Florida, and along the southeastern coast of the United States should monitor the progress of Nicole. Additional watches or warnings may be required later today. For storm information specific to your area in the United States, including possible inland watches and warnings, please monitor products issued by your local National Weather Service forecast office. For storm information specific to your area outside of the United States, please monitor products issued by your national meteorological service. DISCUSSION AND OUTLOOK ---------------------- At 400 AM EST (0900 UTC), the center of Subtropical Storm Nicole was located near latitude 27.6 North, longitude 71.6 West. Nicole is moving toward the northwest near 8 mph (13 km/h). A turn toward the west and west-southwest is forecast today and tonight, and that motion should continue through Wednesday. A turn toward the northwest and north-northwest is expected Thursday and Thursday night. On the forecast track, the center of Nicole will approach the northwestern Bahamas today and tonight, move near or over those islands on Wednesday, and approach the east coast of Florida Wednesday night. Nicole's center is then expected to move across central and northern Florida into southern Georgia Thursday and Thursday night. Maximum sustained winds are near 45 mph (75 km/h) with higher gusts. Nicole is expected to make a transition to a tropical storm later today and begin strengthening, and it is forecast to be near or at hurricane strength by Wednesday and Wednesday night while it is moving near the northwestern Bahamas and approaching the east coast of Florida. Winds of 40 mph extend outward up to 380 miles (610 km) from the center. Data from NOAA buoy 41047 indicate that the minimum central pressure is 995 mb (29.39 inches). HAZARDS AFFECTING LAND ---------------------- Key messages for Nicole can be found in the Tropical Cyclone Discussion under AWIPS header MIATCDAT2, WMO header WTNT42 KNHC, and on the web at www.hurricanes.gov/text/MIATCDAT2.shtml. WIND: Hurricane conditions are expected in the northwestern Bahamas within the hurricane warning area on Wednesday, with tropical storm conditions beginning across all of the northwestern Bahamas by tonight. Hurricane conditions are possible within the hurricane watch area along the east coast of Florida by Wednesday night with tropical storm conditions expected by tonight or early Wednesday. Tropical storm conditions are possible within the watch area along the west coast of Florida by Wednesday night. STORM SURGE: The combination of a dangerous storm surge and the tide will cause normally dry areas near the coast to be flooded by rising waters moving inland from the shoreline. The water could reach the following heights above ground somewhere in the indicated areas if the peak surge occurs at the time of high tide... * North Palm Beach to Altamaha Sound including the St. Johns River to the Fuller Warren Bridge...3 to 5 ft * St. Johns River south of the Fuller Warren Bridge to Georgetown...2 to 4 ft * Hallandale Beach to North Palm Beach...2 to 4 ft * North of Ocean Reef to Hallandale Beach including Biscayne Bay...1 to 2 ft Storm surge could raise water levels by as much as 4 to 6 feet above normal tide levels along the immediate coast of the northwestern Bahamas in areas of onshore winds. The deepest water will occur along the immediate coast near and to the north of the landfall location, where the surge will be accompanied by large and destructive waves. Surge-related flooding depends on the relative timing of the surge and the tidal cycle, and can vary greatly over short distances. For information specific to your area, please see products issued by your local National Weather Service forecast office. RAINFALL: Nicole is expected to produce the following rainfall amounts through Friday: Northwest Bahamas into the eastern, central and northern portions of the Florida Peninsula: 3 to 5 inches with local maxima of 7 inches Southeast Georgia into portions of South Carolina: 1 to 4 inches. Heavy rainfall from this system will spread north farther up the Eastern Seaboard late Thursday into Friday. SURF: Large swells generated by Nicole will affect the northwestern Bahamas, the east coast of Florida, and much of the southeastern United States coast during the next several days. These swells are likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions. Please consult products from your local weather office. NEXT ADVISORY ------------- Next intermediate advisory at 700 AM EST. Next complete advisory at 1000 AM EST. $$ Forecaster Berg/Bucci |