Nicole to make landfall in Florida as hurricane after lashing Grand Bahama island

Florida is bracing for landfall from hurricane Nicole as it churns off the state’s Atlantic Coast. The category one hurricane battered Grand Bahama Island.

Several flights have been grounded due to Nicole ahead of its projected landfall. Nicole would be the first hurricane to make landfall in the US this late in the season in 40 years.

The storm is expected to hit south-eastern or east-central Florida coast early on Thursday. The tropical storm upgraded Wednesday evening with 75mph winds, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) reported.

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The storm arrives just weeks after Hurricane Ian caused destruction across Florida. Most of Florida’s 67 counties are under a state of emergency declaration.

Mandatory evacuation orders were issued in parts of Palm Beach and Volusia counties in Florida, according to officials. This also included former President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago club. An estimated 39 million people are under inland flooding alerts, while 27 million have been alerted of coastal floodings.

Disney World and Universal Orlando Resort closed early on Wednesday. According to forecast, Nicole will move Thursday into southern Georgia and the Carolinas on Friday.

Newly re-elected Florida Governor Ron DeSantis told residents  that Nicole would “affect huge parts of Florida” on Thursday. The sea wall along Indian River Drive, next to the Atlantic Ocean, has already been breached, said local officials.