Hurricane Nicole (2022)

Upon the development of Nicole the Government of the Bahamas issued a tropical storm watch at 09:00 UTC on November 7, for the northwestern Bahamas.[8] This was changed to a hurricane watch three hours later.[16] Then, at 21:00 UTC, a hurricane warning was issued for the northwestern Bahamas, including the Abacos, Berry Islands, Bimini, and Grand Bahama Island. A tropical storm warning was also issued for Andros Island, New Providence, and Eleuthera.[17] As of 09:00 UTC on November 10, all warnings had been discontinued for the northwestern Bahamas.[18]

Temporary shelters were opened at multiple locations on Grand Bahama and the Abaco Islands.[19] Several hundred people took refuge in them as the storm approached.[3]

Amtrak cancelled or modified its Auto Train, Silver Meteor, and Silver Star services between November 8 and 11.[20]

Florida governor Ron DeSantis declared a state of emergency on November 7, covering 34 counties, including Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach.[21] President Joe Biden declared an emergency in Florida on November 9, and ordered that federal assistance be provided to state, tribal and local governments to alleviate the impacts of the approaching storm.[3] Tropical storm and hurricane watches, as well as warnings were in effect for the southern portion of Florida, as well as storm surge watches.[22]

Multiple schools were closed throughout several counties,[23] and several Central Florida theme parks, such as SeaWorld Orlando and Busch Gardens Tampa Bay announced that they would be closed on November 10, due to the storm; Universal Orlando and Walt Disney World both expressed the hope to be able to open at some point during the day.[24] The November 10 start date of the Pelican Women's Championship golf tournament at Belleair (west of Tampa), was postponed due to the storm's approach, and the event shortened to 54 holes.[25] An NBA game between the Orlando Magic and Dallas Mavericks started an hour early due to the tropical storm.[26] A Veterans Day parade was cancelled in Jacksonville,[27] as was a ceremony in Hillsborough County.[28] Officials at the Kennedy Space Center delayed the launch of NASA's Artemis 1 by two days, until November 16. The rocket remained on the launchpad during the storm.[29]

The region's major airports: Palm Beach, Daytona Beach and Orlando, suspended operations while Nicole passed through. Additionally, local officials issued mandatory evacuation orders for residents of barrier islands, low-lying areas and mobile homes.[3]

Storm surge and tropical storm watches were issued for coastal South Georgia. Also, numerous school systems in South Georgia closed their schools.[30] Tropical storm warnings as well as watches were issued for the coast of South Carolina.[31] Coastal flooding warnings were issued in advance.[32] Severe weather advisories and flash flood warnings were issued for several counties in North Carolina.[33][34] Also, Hersheypark in South Central Pennsylvania closed on November 11 in preparation of the storm.[35]

Nicole's precursor disturbance brought heavy rains to several islands of the Lesser Antilles, causing floods and landslides. Impacted were Dominica,[40] Saint Lucia,[39] and Guadeloupe, still recovering from the passage of Hurricane Fiona in mid-September.[41] Antigua and Barbuda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, and the British Virgin Islands also observed heavy rain. No major storm damage or loss of life was reported.[42][43]

Torrential rains of 4–8 in (100–200 mm) fell on Puerto Rico on November 4–6. Similar rain totals were reported in the Dominican Republic.[6] Some locations around the capital, Santo Domingo, received up to 9.1 in (232 mm); at least six people were killed indirectly by the storm.[39] Additionally, several hundred homes were damaged and the country's agricultural sector was adversely impacted.[44]

Flooding and storm surge inundated Grand Bahama, Great Abaco, and New Providence, among other islands. Also, downed trees and power outages were reported across the northwestern Bahamas.[3][45] Storm surge of nearly 4 ft (1.2 m) was reported near Treasure Cay on Great Abaco. Surge-related waves flooded some parts of Nassau, on New Providence.[46] There were no reports of serious injuries or deaths as a result of the storm in the Bahamas.[2]

Nicole brought major storm surge flooding to Florida's east coast. Nearly 50 coastal condominiums, single-family homes and hotels in Volusia County, previously damaged by Hurricane Ian six weeks earlier, collapsed or were put at danger of collapsing due to severe beach erosion caused by the two storms.[47] Additionally, in St. Johns County, the surging ocean damaged a 6-to-7 mi-long (9.7-to-11.3 km) section of State Road A1A and swamped parts of St. Augustine.[48] Significant damage to the A1A also occurred in neighboring Flagler County.[28] An initial cost estimate of property damage in Volusia and Flagler counties combined exceeds $500 million.[37] On the morning of November 10, the ocean water level in Jacksonville was 3.58 ft (1.09 m) above high tide, surpassing the record of 3.21 ft (0.98 m) set by Hurricane Matthew in 2016.[13] Storm surge of 1 to 2 ft (0.61 m) also occurred on the western coast of the Florida, causing minor impacts.[1]

There were five indirect deaths in Florida as a result of Nicole. Two people were killed after being electrocuted by downed power lines in Conway.[49] Two people were killed in a crash on Florida's Turnpike.[50] Another person was found dead in Cocoa on a yacht.[36]

Remains of dunes and a house, just south of New Smyrna Beach, Florida, weeks after the hurricane.

While the strongest sustained winds of Nicole likely weakened below hurricane force before reaching the coast, wind gusts at or near hurricane strength were recorded at multiple weather stations as Nicole came ashore, including 75 mph (121 km/h) at Port St. John and 72 mph (116 km/h) at Melbourne; inland, a wind gust of 66 mph (106 km/h) was recorded at Orlando.[1] The highest wind gust, 100 mph (160 km/h), was recorded atop Launch Complex 39B at the Kennedy Space Center, where Artemis 1 was on the pad.[51] The rocket suffered minor damage, but was cleared for launch by NASA following repairs, and was successfully launched on November 16.[52][53]

Human remains at what is believed to be a Native American burial site on South Hutchinson Island were unearthed by storm erosion, near the point of landfall. Previously, hurricanes Dorian, in 2019, and Sandy, in 2012, unearthed centuries old bones of Native Americans in that same general area.[54]

Much of Florida experienced heavy rains, gusty winds, and power outages as Nicole moved across the state. More than 300,000 homes and businesses lost power statewide.[55]

Nicole brought heavy rainfall and gusting winds to much of the southeastern U.S.[56] In South Georgia, 2,700 customers lost power.[57] Storm surge driven flooding was reported as far north as Charleston, South Carolina.[13]

Portions of North Carolina and Virginia were under a tornado watch on November 11; two short-lived EF0 tornadoes were confirmed near Tignor and Dinwiddie, Virginia with damage limited to trees, outbuildings, and farm equipment.[58] A soaking rain fell upon the North Carolina mountains: the highest total was 8.39 in (213 mm) near Mount Mitchell State Park.[59]