Subtropical Storm Nicole has formed and yes, NOLA.COM did a post!
Subtropical Storm Nicole formed early Monday in the Atlantic and is expected to strengthen into a hurricane before hitting Florida and then entering the Gulf of Mexico, hurricane forecasters said. The current track has Nicole turning northeast in the Gulf and hitting Florida again before moving through Georgia and South Carolina. The storm is not expected to threaten Louisiana, but forecasters at the National Weather Service in Slidell said they will be monitoring the storm “very closely.” “We’re still in the season even though I’m sure everyone is ready to move onto the holidays and Mardi Gras,” said Benjamin Schott, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service in Slidell. The arrival of November usually marks the end of the busiest part of the Atlantic hurricane season, which officially ends Nov. 30. Storms can form any time, though. Here’s what to know about the systems as of 10 a.m. Monday from the National Hurricane Center.
Subtropical Storm Nicole to strengthen
Subtropical Storm Nicole formed early Monday and is expected to bring a “prolonged period of hazardous weather” this week to the northwestern Bahamas, Florida and the Southeast, forecasters said. It’s expected to be a Category 1 hurricane by the time it reaches Florida’s southeastern coast. A hurricane watch has been issued for parts of Florida. As of 10 a.m., it was about 495 miles east of the northwestern Bahamas and was moving northwest at 9 mph. It has winds of 45 mph and is expected to strengthen into a hurricane with peak winds of 75 mph, forecasters said. Category 1 hurricanes have winds of at least 74 mph. Nicole is expected to transition into a tropical storm in about 24 to 36 hours, forecasters said Monday morning. 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. Nicole could drop up to six inches of rain in Florida and push a storm surge up to five feet. It’s forecast to weaken as it moves across Florida and is not expected to reintensify in the Gulf of Mexico, forecasters said. A strong cold front is expected to prevent the storm from reaching Louisiana, Schott said.
Subtropical versus tropical
A subtropical storm has many of the characteristics of a tropical storm, except it generally has a colder core temperature and a slightly different wind structure. It poses the same threats as a tropical storm – strong winds, heavy rain and higher tides. Subtropical storms often transition into tropical storms as they move over warmer water. Subtropical Storm Nicole is expected to become a tropical storm as it approaches Florida and then strengthen into a hurricane, forecasters said.
Disturbance in the Atlantic
Hurricane forecasters also are tracking a disturbance in the Atlantic. The disturbance — a well-defined area of low pressure — is about 650 miles east of Bermuda. It’s producing gale-force winds. Forecasters said it could become a short-lived tropical storm Tuesday as it moves north to northeast at 10 mph. The next available name is Owen. It has a 60% chance of developing into a tropical depression within five days.
We might see some rain but that would be all.
