Update – 12:05 AM EST

At the 10:00 PM EST update from the National Hurricane Center, Air Force Hurricane Hunter aircraft indicate Tropical Storm Nicole is close to hurricane strength and is expected to form into a hurricane at some point Wednesday. Nicole is expected to remain at hurricane strength when it reaches the east coast of Florida. 

Currently, Nicole has tropical-storm-force winds extending outward up to 380 miles from the center, and is moving toward the west-southwest near 10 MPH with a west-southwestward to westward motion that is expected through early Wednesday. A west-northwestward motion is forecast to begin later Wednesday, followed by a turn toward the northwest and north on Thursday and Thursday night.

On the forecast track, the center of Nicole will approach the northwestern Bahamas overnight, move near or over those islands on Wednesday, and approach the east coast of Florida within the hurricane warning area Wednesday night or early Thursday.

Nicole's center is then expected to move across central and northern Florida into southern Georgia Thursday and Thursday 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 late Wednesday or Wednesday night, where a Hurricane Warning is in effect. Tropical storm conditions are expected in the Tropical Storm Warning areas in Florida and Georgia beginning early Wednesday.
   
   
2. A dangerous storm surge is expected along much of the east coast of Florida and portions of coastal Georgia where a Storm Surge Warning is in effect. The storm surge will be accompanied by large and damaging waves. 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 expected to be a large storm with hazards extending well to the north of the center, outside of the forecast cone. These hazards are likely to affect much of the Florida peninsula and portions of the southeast United States.
   
   
4. Nicole will produce heavy rainfall Wednesday and Thursday across the Florida Peninsula. Flash and urban flooding will be likely across portions of the Florida Peninsula along with possible renewed river rises on the St. Johns River. On Friday and Saturday, flash, urban and small stream flooding will be possible in the Southeast through the Mid-Atlantic and central Appalachians.