Nicole Hurricane Watch In Effect, 34 FL Counties In Emergency Status

Updated at 6:35 p.m.

FLORIDA — Tampa Bay could now be in the path of Subtropical Storm Nicole as it grows in the Atlantic. A hurricane watch has been issued along the eastern coast of Florida, and, parts of the region should prepare for a storm surge, emergency officials said.

On Monday afternoon, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis declared a state of emergency in anticipation of Nicole's arrival.

The state of emergency is for 34 counties in the potential path of Subtropical Storm Nicole. (See the full list below.)

• Related: Tampa Bay Within 'Cone Of Uncertainty' For Subtropical Storm Nicole

DeSantis said he issued the order "in an abundance of caution" so that communities can prepare and families and businesses can create a plan and gather necessary resources in the event that Subtropical Storm Nicole gains in strength.

“While this storm does not, at this time, appear that it will become much stronger, I urge all Floridians to be prepared and to listen to announcements from local emergency management officials,” said DeSantis. “We will continue to monitor the trajectory and strength of this storm as it moves towards Florida.”

Late Monday afternoon, the National Hurricane Center in Miami placed Tampa Bay counties within the "cone of uncertainty," indicating that Tampa Bay could be in the storm's path.

Residents should review preparedness plans and monitor the storm for the latest updates, officials said.

Pinellas County Public Works reported that it has begun checking and preparing the county's stormwater drainage system to reduce the risk of flooding.

Tropical storm watches were added for Highlands, Polk, Hardee, DeSoto, and Sumter counties. Rain bands will reach central and western Florida Wednesday or Thursday morning and persist into Friday, NHC forecasters said.

Thursday has the best potential for flooding rain on urban streets, rivers, and creeks, the agency said. Watch for 2-3 feet above normal tides Thursday night and Friday as winds come onshore. The Nature Coast, including Cedar Key, has a risk of a 4 to 6 feet of storm surge if Nicole makes it into the Gulf of Mexico, while 1-2 feet below normal tides are possible ahead of the storm Wednesday and Thursday.

On Monday morning, the National Hurricane Center declared the formation of Subtropical Storm Nicole.

Flash flooding and tropical storm-force winds from Subtropical Storm Nicole are expected to affect Florida as the storm likely becomes a hurricane by Wednesday, according to the National Hurricane Center in Miami.

A hurricane watch is now in effect for the east coast of Florida from the Volusia/Brevard County line to Hallandale Beach and Lake Okeechobee.

A storm surge watch is in effect for Altamaha Sound to Hallandale Beach.

And a tropical storm watch is in effect for Altamaha Sound south to the Volusia/Brevard County line and Hallandale Beach to north of Ocean Reef.

The hurricane center said hazardous weather is expected over the northwestern Bahamas and the southeastern coast of the United States this week, reaching eastern Florida by Wednesday.

Regardless of the storm's intensity or exact path of Subtropical Storm Nicole, DeSantis reminded Floridians to prepare for an increased risk of coastal flooding, heavy winds, rain, rip currents and beach erosion. Wind gusts can be expected as soon as Tuesday along Florida’s East Coast, according to the hurricane center.

Counties under a state of emergency include Brevard, Broward, Charlotte, Citrus, Clay, Collier, DeSoto, Duval, Flagler, Glades, Hardee, Hendry, Highlands, Hillsborough, Indian River, Lake, Lee, Manatee, Martin, Miami-Dade, Nassau, Okeechobee, Orange, Osceola, Palm Beach, Pasco, Polk, Putnam, Sarasota, Seminole, St. Johns, St. Lucie, Sumter and Volusia counties.

AccuWeather meteorologists expect this sprawling storm to take a turn and hit Florida’s east coast as a hurricane later this week before it takes a run up the Eastern Seaboard.

Heavy rainfall from this system will spread north across the Southeast United States late this week, according to the hurricane center.

The storm developed over a month after Hurricane Ian slammed into the Fort Myers area on Sept. 28, killing 130 people in the state, causing billions in damage, and devastating the barrier islands of Sanibel, Pine and Captiva.

As of the hurricane center's 2 p.m. update, Nicole is located about 465 miles east of the Bahamas with maximum sustained winds of 45 mph. The storm is moving north-northwest at 9 mph.

A turn toward the northwest with a decrease in forward speed is expected later today. A west or west-southwest motion is forecast Tuesday through early Thursday, forecasters said.

On the forecast track, the center of Nicole will approach the northwestern Bahamas on Tuesday, move near or over those islands on Wednesday, and approach the east coast of Florida by Wednesday night.

Gradual strengthening is forecast during the next few days, and Nicole could be near or at hurricane intensity by Wednesday or Wednesday night while it is moving near the northwestern Bahamas.

"The main impacts on the Florida Peninsula will be from torrential rain and strong, long-duration winds as well as the effects of pounding waves on the Atlantic coast," AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Alex Sosnowski said. "After swinging back over Florida, Nicole is likely to take a northward turn and track along the Eastern Seaboard of the U.S. late this week and then Atlantic Canada later this weekend."

Winds of 40 mph or greater extend outward up to 275 miles to the east of the center.

According to the hurricane center, heavy rainfall from this system is expected to impact portions of Florida and the southeastern United States by mid to late week.

Nicole is the 14th named storm of the 2022 Atlantic season, which ends at the end of November.

As Nicole strengthens and becomes better organized it will likely become fully-tropical before heading for the northern Bahamas and the southeast coast of Florida, Accuweather said Monday.

"Rain will move into the Bahamas and Florida around the middle of the week and flash flooding will be a concern," said AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Adam Douty.

In addition to rainfall, tropical storm-force winds are expected to overspread the northern Bahamas and much of the Florida Peninsula later Tuesday into Wednesday morning. AccuWeather's projects the tropical storm could make landfall in southeastern Florida on Thursday.

RELATED:

• Hurricane Season 2022 Predicted To Be 'Above Normal': NOAA
• 2022 Hurricane Names List Released For Atlantic Season

Forecasters at the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration's Climate Prediction Center said in their annual prediction for the 2022 Atlantic hurricane season, which began June 1 and continues through Nov. 30, that the season should be active.

According to this year's forecast, the ongoing La Niña, in addition to above-average ocean temperatures, means there's a 65 percent chance the 2022 hurricane season will be above normal.

For the 2022 season, forecasters are predicting 14 to 21 named storms with winds of 39 mph or higher. Of those, anywhere from six to 10 of the storms could become hurricanes with winds of 74 mph or higher.

This year's season could also spawn anywhere from three to six major hurricanes rated a category 3 or higher, forecasters said.