Updated – 10:20 AM EST

At the 10:00 AM EST update from the National Hurricane Center, Tropical Storm Nicole is close to hurricane strength and is expected to form into a hurricane at some point today. Maximum sustained winds are near 70 MPH with higher gusts. Once a hurricane, Nicole is expected to remain at hurricane strength until it reaches Florida’s east coast. 

Currently, Nicole is a large tropical storm with tropical-storm-force winds extending outward up to 460 miles especially to the north of the center. 

Nicole is moving toward the west near 12 MPH with a turn toward the west-northwest expected tonight, followed by a turn toward the northwest on Thursday, and north or north-northeast on Friday. Nicole's center is then expected to move across central and northern Florida into southern Georgia Thursday and Thursday night, and then across the Carolinas Friday and Friday night.

Key Messages from The National Hurricane Center

1. Hurricane conditions are expected across portions of the coast of southeast and east-central Florida beginning this evening or tonight, where a Hurricane Warning is in effect. Tropical storm conditions have begun along the east coast of Florida in the warning areas and will spread northward to Georgia and South Carolina later today. Tropical storm conditions are expected to begin along the west coast of Florida within the warning area this evening or tonight.
   
   
2. A dangerous storm surge is expected along much of the east coast of Florida, portions of coastal Georgia, and the Florida Big Bend along the Gulf coast. The storm surge will be accompanied by large and damaging waves along the Atlantic coast. Residents in the warning area should listen to advice given by local officials.
   
   
3. Do not focus on the exact track of Nicole since it is a large storm with hazards extending well to the north of the center, outside of the forecast cone. These hazards will affect much of the Florida peninsula and portions of the southeast United States.
   
   
4. Nicole will produce heavy rainfall today into Thursday across the Florida Peninsula. Flash and urban flooding will be possible across portions of the Florida Peninsula along with river rises on the St. Johns River. Isolated flash, urban, and small stream flooding will also be possible on Friday in the Southeast through the southern and central Appalachians, including the Blue Ridge Mountains, and extending northward through west central Pennsylvania into western New York by Friday night.