Florida's East Coast on Alert for Possible Strong Subtropical Storm Nicole this week

Hurricane or tropical storm watches or warnings could be issued as early as today with an unusual late-season system targeting areas of Florida's east coast targeting the Sunshine State.

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The system, the National Hurricane Center said, intensified into Subtropical Storm Nicole overnight.

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It could be near or at hurricane strength on Wednesday and Thursday with an approaching storm near the northwestern Bahamas and the east coast of Florida.

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An official forecast released early Monday showed Nicole reaching 85 mph gusts of wind up to 70 mph before reaching the coast of Palm Beach County.

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Tropical Storm Watches are in effect for the northwest Bahamas.

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Weather conditions are likely to worsen through Tuesday with coastal flooding and high winds from Jacksonville to Miami

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Hurricane season is clearly not upon us yet,” NHC acting deputy director Michael Brennan said at a briefing on Sunday.

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The point I want to emphasize is that the scale of the system is huge and we will see effects over a large area.

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