Tropical Storm Nicole live updates: Power lines kill 2 in Orange, Volusia homes in ocean

In the aftermath of Hurricane Nicole, follow along for live updates from the Orlando Sentinel.

Universal theme parks open to hotel guests | 2:55 p.m.

Universal Orlando opened up its two theme parks “with limited experiences” Thursday afternoon — but only to guests who are currently staying at Universal hotels. Universal Studios opened at 2 p.m., with neighboring Islands of Adventure set to reopen at 3 p.m.

Universal CityWalk also reopened at 2 p.m. Volcano Bay water park remained closed.

All Universal Orlando parks will return to their normal schedules on Friday, the company said.

- Dewayne Bevil

FDOH reminds residents to be cautious during storm clean up | 1:53 p.m.

The Florida Department of Health in Orange County is warning residents to stay safe when cleaning up after the storm.

In the weeks after Hurricane Ian, local hospitals and clinics saw an elevated number of injuries after people tried to clean up.

Spokesperson Kent Donahue in a news release reminded homeowners to wear goggles, heavy gloves, and steel-toed boots.

Downed power lines should never be handled and power should be turned off at the main breaker to avoid electrocution in wet areas, the news release said.

If a water-damaged structure shifts or makes unusual noises, leave immediately, Donahue added.

Residents should make sure not to strain themselves: work in groups during cooler hours of the day, take frequent breaks, and don’t lift more than 50 pounds of debris at once. Only experienced people should use chainsaws or other specialized equipment.

All open wounds should be immediately cleaned with open water and anything beyond a scratch may require medical attention.

- Caroline Catherman

Winds dying down in Downtown Orlando | 1:45 p.m.

At about 1 p.m. Thursday, as the last of Nicole’s howling winds began to fade from downtown Orlando, scattered tree debris and a gray sky were the only signs of the storm’s visit. Residents in mostly-dry raincoats were out walking their dogs along the streets, which, unlike in Hurricane Ian’s aftermath, were mostly free of standing water.

At Lake Eola, the swans and other resident birds were out, as were some human visitors. The lake — which flooded during Ian, covering the park and nearby Robinson Street — remained within its shoreline. Felled branches littered the park and nearby streets, but not enough to affect traffic, which was already picking up.

Most of Thornton Park’s restaurants appeared to be open and serving customers, as was the Publix location at The Paramount on Lake Eola.

At First United Methodist Church of Orlando, which served as a polling place on Tuesday, even the dozen or so yard signs for various political candidates that hadn’t been removed survived the storm standing, though some were tilted at odd angles.

- Jeff Weiner

No Ian encore for Gatorland, which rides out storm | 1:05 p.m.

Gatorland President and CEO Mark McHugh reported no major damage to the south Orlando attraction, a sharp contrast to the flooding that occurred after Hurricane Ian.

“The lake levels are normal. We didn’t have any damage to any of our exhibits from falling trees or anything. We’ve got just general leaf litter and small limbs all over the park that we’re sweeping up,” he said.

Ian flooded the park after rains broke down a section of the berm that had protected Gatorland since the 1960s, McHugh said. The park was covered by 18-24 inches of standing water after Ian, and it was closed for about two weeks.

“We rebuilt it and repaired it, built it up a little higher than it was,” he said. “The swamp that that’s outside, where the water came from last time, never rose either. It stayed about the same as it was yesterday.”

Gatorland’s full-time residents fared OK, too.

“All the animals are good. We had an overnight team again here that spent the night and were checking on things,” McHugh said. “We rode this one out really well.”

Gatorland will reopen to the public Friday.

- Dewayne Bevil

Legoland, Peppa Pig parks reopen | 12:55 p.m.

In Winter Haven, Legoland Florida theme parks and neighboring Peppa Pig Theme Park reopened at noon Thursday. Legoland’s water park remained closed.

The Peppa Pig attraction, which debuted early this year, will close at 5 p.m. Thursday; Legoland will close at 6 p.m.

Officials reported no damage that created a safety issue. Both parks plan to operate under their normal hours Friday, starting at 10 a.m.

- Dewayne Bevil

Storm brings lots of sea foam onshore in St. Augustine | 12:42 p.m.

A video from Manda Pinner in Saint Augustine shows a large amount of sea foam trapped onshore from the storm surge from then-Hurricane Nicole.

Flooding closes roads in St. Cloud | 12:35 p.m.

Commerce Creek shopping area on Commerce Center Drive is closed from Brown Chapel Road to Old Canoe Creek Road, the city of St. Cloud tweeted. Businesses along Commerce Center Drive can be accessed from Old Canoe Creek. Officials shut down the area to clear water from the road and expect the closure to last 24 hours while pumps work to clear flooding.

- Natalia Jaramillo

Florida’s Turnpike flooded and closed | 12:32 p.m.

Flooding from Hurricane Nicole closed Exit 272 northbound ramp on the Turnpike (SR-50: West Winter Garden/Clermont), Lake County tweeted Thursday. The ramp is closed until further notice.

- Carolyn Guniss

2 killed in Conway after electrocution by downed power line, Orange deputies say | 11:58 a.m.

Two people were killed Thursday morning as Tropical Storm Nicole passed over Central Florida after a downed power line in the Conway neighborhood electrocuted them, according to the Orange County Sheriff’s Office.

Deputies and firefighters arrived around 9:30 a.m. at the intersection of Bayview Parkway and Pershing Avenue, where a man was found dead after making contact with the power line after he got out of his car, an OCSO spokesperson said in an unsigned statement.

A woman traveling with him was also electrocuted, and later died at a hospital. No other injuries were reported.

The two victims are the first reported deaths as Nicole continued its way through Florida on Thursday.

“We are urging all of our residents and visitors to use extreme caution if they are outside in the wake of the storm today,” read the agency’s statement. “Never touch a downed power line. If you are driving and see a downed power line, change directions immediately.”

Cristóbal Reyes

Volusia bridges closed, curfew in place as homes fall into ocean | 11:32 a.m.

The Volusia County Sheriff’s Office confirmed several houses have collapsed into the ocean and that other properties are at risk. Because of the damage, all bridges to the beachside remain closed to traffic except for essential personnel until further notice, according to a post on Twitter.

“A curfew is in effect for the peninsula. Please stay off the roads,” the post reads. The sheriff’s office also confirmed it was evacuating residents at the Tower Grande Condominiums on S. Atlantic Avenue in Daytona Beach because of the collapse of its sea wall.

Media outlets posted video of several homes that had fallen into the ocean farther south on the county’s barrier islands.

“It’s what we feared could happen. This home in Wilbur-By-The-Seas collapsed into the ocean,” wrote WFTV’s Christy Turner on Twitter while venturing inside the damaged bottom floor of another home falling into the water.

Beaches in Volusia County had already been decimated by Hurricane Ian in September and the approaching Hurricane Nicole from the east hammered the coastline to cause further erosion.

Officials evacuated several condo buildings in Daytona Beach Shores to the north on Wednesday and social media posts throughout the day showed continued damage such as broken off asphalt and concrete barriers as waves crashed up along the structures with no dune protection.

The threat of continued high tide and storm surge is expected to continue both this morning and again tonight.

Richard Tribou

Universal plans reopening | 11:29 a.m.

Universal Orlando staff are completing post-storm assessments and the resort will share phased reopening plans soon, according to a release sent late Thursday morning.

“Our thoughts go out to all those impacted by Tropical Storm Nicole, and we stand ready to help our communities recover,” the statement read.

Universal’s employee website said workers would be updated by 11:30 a.m. with information about reporting to work Thursday.

Katie Rice

Orange County boating warning | 11:25 a.m.

In the wake of Hurricane Nicole, Orange County closed its public boat ramps and issued an advisory to boaters who may be planning to venture into lakes and ponds.

“Keep boats at idle speed and be cautious of submerged and floating structures,” county officials warned in a message retweeted by the Orange County Sheriff’s Office.

Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings will hold a briefing at 3 p.m. today to detail the impact of the storm here.

Stephen Hudak

Gov. DeSantis gives state update | 11:03 a.m.

Gov. Ron DeSantis held a press conference in Tallahassee along with Florida Division of Emergency Management Director Kevin Guthrie. The video was streamed live at TheFloridaChannel.org and on the governor’s Facebook page.

“Tropical storm conditions are continuing to move through the state, exiting the peninsula into the Gulf of Mexico and then re-enter in the Big Bend region later today,” DeSantis said.

Tropical storm winds of up to 50 mph, causing downed trees and power lines, DeSantis said, and heavy rains are creating 5-foot storm surges, washing out roads and jeopardizing homes due to beach erosion along the coastal counties of Brevard, Volusia Flagler and St. Johns, he said.

Coming on the heels of Hurricane Ian, Nicole “has put a lot of structures in jeopardy,” he said.

More than 50 counties were under a tropical storm warning, which should decrease as the storm moves across the state. DeSantis declared a state of emergency Monday and expanded that Thursday morning to the entire state. Sixty-two school districts were closed.

“We’re ready to respond to whatever needs arise,” DeSantis said.

As of Thursday morning, 333,000 accounts, or 2.98% of the state, were without power, he said. Brevard had the highest percentage of outages at 23% and Indian River second at 16.6%. Some 17,000 linemen are staged to restore power.

The state has deployed 600 national guardsmen, and has seven urban search and rescue teams on standby, and 250 Florida Department of Transportation crews are ready to deploy to begin damage assessments, bridge inspections and debris removal.

“The men and women behind me get all the credit,” state emergency management director Kevin Guthrie said. “They have been working 48 days straight, and continue to respond to what Floridians need most.”

Jeffrey Schweers

Seminole gives debris advice | 11:02 a.m.

As Tropical Storm Nicole moves away from the Central Florida region, people will soon start heading outside to collect debris.

To speed the collection process, Seminole County officials urge residents in unincorporated areas to separate the vegetative stuff — such as tree limbs, branches and leaves — from the construction debris — which could include plywood, drywall and fencing.

Otherwise, the waste haulers will have to sort it out, and that delays the pickup. County officials also urge residents to not include the bagged leaves with the other vegetative debris. The plastic bags tend to jam the mulching machines.

Residents also should avoid piling debris near storm drains or on sidewalks and roads.

For more information, call 407-665-0000.

Martin E. Comas

Orlando saw 5 inches of rain amid flood worries | 10:58 a.m.

Tropical Storm Nicole dumped about five inches of rain on Orlando, city officials said, and crews are checking on areas that flooded after Hurricane Ian in September to assess damages.

Also, because of the rain, the city requests residents limit water usage so as not to overload wastewater systems, as happened during Ian. The high water table had led to water intruding into the system, causing it to be over capacity.

“Additional water usage like this will put more pressure on these systems and could lead to sewage overflows,” according to a news release.

Residents should avoid standing water on roadways and a Lake Advisory is in effect and all boat ramps are closed. -Ryan Gillespie

Ryan Gillespie

More than 350,000 customers without power | 10:41 a.m.

Power outages have increased overnight across the state. At 10:30 a.m., nearly 350,000 customers were without power, with more than 840,000 customers without power in Brevard County, more than 50,000 in Orange, nearly 30,000 in Seminole, more than 35,000 in Volusia and nearly 8,000 in Lake County, according to poweroutage.us.

Gov. Ron DeSantis today said more than 17,000 electric company linemen were stationed around the state to respond once weather conditions allowed it.

Representatives from Duke Energy and OUC said Wednesday they’d work quickly to restore power when conditions were safe to do so. Duke has 5,000 resources from around the country stationed in Central Florida, while OUC has 200 of its own.

“The wind gusts are currently still too strong to allow our crews to safely work in the field,” OUC tweeted Thursday morning. “Once the storm fully passes, crews will be working tirelessly to restore power to all customers affected. Please be patient.”

Richard Tribou, Ryan Gillespie

Precautionary boil water notice in Osceola County | 9:54 a.m.

Toho Water Authority is issuing a precautionary boil water notice for the areas of Harmony and the Pine Glen neighborhoods in Osceola County after a power plant in Harmony experienced a power outage and a failed backup generator, the water provider said in a press release. Toho Water Authority asks residents to boil water for one minute or use bottled water until the precautionary boil water notice is lifted. Toho Water Authority has already restored power to the power plant and the boil water notice will be in effect until further notice, the release said.

Natalia Jaramillo

Orlando International Airport remains closed for now | 9:33 a.m.

After having shut down on Wednesday afternoon, Orlando International Airport posted Thursday morning that operations remain halted Thursday morning.

“Commercial operations are still halted for today at MCO. We’ll post updates as they become available and we ask you to please continue to work with your airline in regards to your specific flight,” the airport posted to Twitter.

Orlando Sanford International Airport, Palm Beach International Airport , Daytona Beach International Airport and Melbourne Orlando International Airport had all shut down by Wednesday afternoon.

Brevard County saw some of the strongest winds as the eye of Nicole passed over southern Brevard County and northern Indian River County.

“MLB operations staff members are currently assessing the condition of our terminal, airfield, and airport facilities following the impacts of #Nicole. Based on the findings, airport leaders will determine our readiness to reopen and resume normal operations. Stay tuned!” reads a post on Twitter from Melbourne airport officials. DBIA is scheduled to reopen at 4 a.m. Friday. Orlando Sanford officials have yet to post an update.

SunRail also shut down train service as of Wednesday, and won’t reopen until all of 126 crossings have been inspected along the 61.5 miles of the corridor.

Richard Tribou

St. Cloud sees fallen trees, some flooding, downed power lines | 9:22 a.m.

The city of St. Cloud reported only a few fallen trees but no major roads are blocked, the city said in a tweet. The city has deployed crews to pump the 1 to 2 inches of water on Commerce Road. In the area of 10th street and Whisler Court, the city said they have reports of downed power lines and a possible water main break. Officials ask the residents in this area to stay indoors and always assume downed power lines are live.

Natalia Jaramillo

Osceola tells residents to stay inside for now | 8:06 a.m.

Former Hurricane Nicole is starting to move away from Central Florida, but Osceola County officials are telling residents the storm’s not over yet.

“As day breaks over @OsceolaCountyFl, please continue to stay sheltered if possible & avoid unnecessary travel,” the county’s Office of Emergency Management tweeted this morning. “Allow first crews the chance to make sure roadways are clear of debris & safe for driving. If you see downed power lines, call 911 to report, and DO NOT TOUCH THEM.”

The EOC was also asking residents to report any significant storm damage to the Citizen’s Information Center at 407-742-0000. “The call center will be staffed from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. today, and can take calls in English and Spanish,” the county said.

Roger Simmons

North Florida starts to see winds | 8:03 a.m.

Wind is picking up here in Tallahassee, expecting rain later this morning to last all day. We’re under a tropical storm and tornado warning. Coastal flooding expected. City called for reinforcements to help with any possible power restoration.

Jeffrey Schweers

More than 230,000 without power | 7:21 a.m.

Power outages have increased overnight across the state. At 7:20 a.m., more than 230,000 customers were without power, with nearly 90,000 customers without power in Brevard County, more than 34,000 in Volusia, more than 23,000 in Orange, and nearly 8,000 in Seminole, according to poweroutage.us.

Gov. Ron DeSantis on Wednesday said more than 16,000 electric company responders were stationed around the state to respond once weather conditions allowed it.

Richard Tribou

Coastal tide and surf threat continues | 7:15 a.m.

The NWS warned large breaking waves still over 10 feet tall will continue with life-threatening rip currents.

“Strong winds and high surf will combine with the ongoing high astronomical tides to bring significant water runup and major beach erosion, around the times of the next high tide cycles,” it stated, with beachside high tide ranging from 8:45-9:30 a.m. and tonight from 9-9:45 a.m. and tidal flooding possible around Sebastian Inlet, Ponce Inlet and the Halifax River and the Intracoastal Waterway.

“Additional overwash or breaching of dunes and inundation of immediate low lying coastal areas is expected,” the NWS said.

“Vulnerable coastal structures could be compromised or fully collapse,” warned the NWS. “Coastal areas of Volusia County which suffered serious damage from Hurricane Ian remain particularly vulnerable to additional beach erosion, dune breaching, overwash and coastal inundation. Damaged sea walls may be further compromised or destroyed.”

Orlando conditions to improve by mid-morning | 6:40 a.m.

Conditions in the heart of Orlando should start improving by 8 a.m. and steadily get better as Nicole moves out.

Sustained winds will drop to about 25 mph and gusts to about 40 mph by that time at Orlando Executive Airport just east of downtown, according to an hour-by-hour forecast from the National Weather Service in Melbourne.

About a half inch more of rain is expected the rest of the morning, the forecast says.

By 5 p.m., winds will die down to 20 mph with gusts reaching 30 mph and only a smattering of rain.

Temperatures are forecast to stay right around 70 degrees all day.

Mark Skoneki

Kennedy Space Center weather tower sees 100 mph gust | 6:31 a.m.

NASA left its $4.1 billion Space Launch System rocket and Orion spacecraft for the Artemis I mission to the moon on the launch pad at Kennedy Space Center to ride out the storm, noting that it could withstand sustained winds of 85 mph at 60 feet high when vertical at Launch Complex 39-B.

The weather sensors on a tower at LC 39-B record wind data among other things at various heights every five minutes, posted to kscweather.ksc.nasa.gov.

The SLS stands 321 feet tall and the 600-foot-tall tower sensors are as high as 459 feet up. At 4:15 a.m., one sensor recorded a maximum gust of 100 mph. The average wind at that time was 85 mph.

At lower heights, though, the wind was not as severe at that time. At 134 feet at that time, a sensor recorded a gust of 81 mph and sustained winds of 67 mph.

The tower’s tallest sensors saw gusts between 90-100 mph several times between 3 and 5 a.m. but sustained winds more in the 50-60 mph range closer to the ground.

Richard Tribou

Winds pick up in Orlando | 5:27 a.m.

At 5 a.m. in College Park, sustained winds were at 36 mph, with gusts of up to 56 mph and driving rain, much like the peak of a strong summer thunderstorm that won’t quit.

Power remained on, at least for now.

About 10,000 customers were without power in Orange County by 5:20 a.m.

Mark Skoneki

Damage seen in Brevard County | 5:17 a.m.

Storm chasers around Brevard County posted images and video to Twitter of wind and rain damage growing across Brevard County after Hurricane Nicole made landfall south near Vero Beach at 3 a.m.

Reed Timmer posted a dangling streetlight and trees down in Satellite Beach as sheets of rain flew across the barrier island while @ChicagoMWeather showed storm surge with water up to a beachside apartment building’s first floor. And @EastWestWx posted a structure getting blown apart in Melbourne.

More posts show fallen signs, a damaged gas station, blown transformers as the northern end of the eyewall strafed the barrier islands of Melbourne Beach, Indian Harbor Beach, Indialantic and South Patrick Shores. Nearly 60,000 customers were without power in Brevard County by 5 a.m.

Richard Tribou

Hurricane Nicole made landfall | 3:10 a.m.

Hurricane Nicole has made landfall on the east coast of the Florida peninsula on North Hutchinson Island just south of Vero Beach in Indian River County with maximum sustained winds of 75 mph (120 km/h), according to the National Hurricane Center.

In a special update at 3 a.m. Thursday, the NHC said Hurricane Nicole was located about 15 miles north-northwest of Fort Pierce and heading west-northwest at 14 mph. A hurricane warning remains in effect from Boca Raton to the Volusia-Flagler county line.

Hurricane Nicole eye moves onshore in Fort Pierce | 2:36 a.m.

MyRadar Weather posted a video showing current conditions in Fort Pierce as the eye of Hurricane Nicole begins to move onshore there.

Inside the eye currently, winds are about 10 mph with a light drizzle of rain.

Power outages are growing quickly across the state | 2:32 a.m.

Power outages are beginning to pop up on the coast. At 2 a.m., almost 55,000 customers across the state were without power, with almost 17,000 customers without power in Brevard County. according to poweroutage.us.

Power outages are extending across the state and up the Gulf Coast, with nearly 1,000 customers without power right now in Polk County and more than 1,100 out in Levy County on the Gulf Coast north of Tampa.

Wave heights continue to grow around the state | 2:25 a.m.

An NOAA tide gauge at Fernandina Beach in Nassau County observed a water level of 4.5 feet above Mean Higher High Water - the average height of the highest tide recorded each day. Fernandina Beach is located near Jacksonville on Amelia Island and is Florida’s northernmost city on the Atlantic coast.

Spectrum Bay News 9 in Tampa reported wave heights of up to 22 feet in St. Lucie, 19 feet in Volusia and 18 feet in Brevard counties on the Atlantic coast of Florida. Meanwhile, wave heights also began to grow on Florida’s Gulf coast, with waves up to 11 feet in Pinellas and 10 feet in Manatee counties around Tampa Bay.

Waves crashing over a Deerfield Beach pier, show the pier coming apart | 1:24 a.m.

A Twitter video from Wednesday night shows intense waves crashing over a Deerfield Beach pier in northern Broward County, highlighting the intensity of the storm surge Florida’s east coast is facing.

Video shows coastal erosion in Daytona Beach Shores | 12:44 a.m.

A video posted to Twitter shows the extent of coastal erosion there, as the coast was previously battered by Hurricane Ian just a few weeks ago and now faces Hurricane Nicole.

The video shows several beachfront homes at the edge of a coastal cliff, what used to be a beach just a couple of days ago, with ocean waves continuing to batter the sand away.

Disney announces re-opening plans | 8:30 p.m.

Though Hurricane Nicole has not yet made landfall on Florida, Walt Disney World has already announced its plans for reopening its theme parks.

Disney will start its phased reopening at noon Thursday when Magic Kingdom opens. It will close at 6 p.m. for the Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party at 7 p.m.

Gates at Epcot and Animal Kingdom open at 1 p.m. Thursday while Hollywood Studios opens at 2 p.m.

For a full list of Disney’s openings, click here.

- David Harris

Shelters open in wake of Hurricane Nicole | 8 p.m.

Several counties throughout Central Florida are opening shelters for residents in the wake of Hurricane Nicole as it barrels toward Florida’s east coast.

Click here for a full list of shelters in Orange, Lake, Seminole, Brevard and Volusia counties

Nicole becomes a hurricane, makes landfall in the Bahamas | 6 p.m.

Nicole strengthened from a tropical storm to a Category 1 hurricane as it made landfall on Grand Bahama island.

The maximum winds are currently estimated to be 75 mph with higher gusts and a pressure of 980 mb. The storm is currently located 105 miles from West Palm Beach moving at 12 mph.

Hospitals reduce services, gather supplies | 4:13 p.m.

Orlando Health is pausing scheduled office visits and elective procedures through Thursday, starting at 5 p.m. Wednesday, the system said in a news release.

Virtual visits are still available for minor issues, and for severe concerns, all Orlando Health hospitals and emergency rooms in Central Florida will remain open throughout the storm.

Fuel tanks are full, loose objects are secured, and hospitals have ensured they have enough medical and non-medical supplies, the news release said.

The system will also activate its Emergency Response Teams — staff who live 24/7 at hospitals to care for patients until extreme weather ends — starting 5 p.m. Wednesday.

Orlando Health expects to return to normal operations on Friday, states the release.

Meanwhile, Richard Hammett, president of HCA Healthcare North Florida Division, said in a statement that the hospital system is monitoring the storm and actively preparing.

“Our leadership teams at our five Central Florida hospitals and other sites of care have been working diligently to ensure our care teams are supported and that we have adequate staffing, medications, supplies, food, water, and generator power to continue to operate and care for our patients,” Hammett said.

HCA Florida Osceola Hospital and HCA Florida Lake Monroe Hospital are taking special measures to protect parking areas.

These facilities’ parking areas flooded during Hurricane Ian, though the same level of flooding is not expected with this storm, said spokesperson Trip Farmer.

All AdventHealth Central Florida Centra Care locations — with the exception of Heart of Florida, Lakeland and Poinciana — closed at 4 p.m. on Wednesday, according to the healthcare system’s website.

All in-person appointments Wednesday and Thursday will be rescheduled or changed to virtual visits at AdventHealth Medical Group practices in Orange, Osceola, Seminole, Lake, Volusia, Brevard, Indian River, Saint Lucie and Polk Counties. Lake County practices closed at 2 p.m. Wednesday and will contact patients who have Thursday visits about going virtual. AdventHealth hospitals and emergency rooms are all open as of Wednesday at 4 p.m., according to the system’s website.

- Caroline Catherman

Daytona Beach Shores evacuates list because of potential erosion | 3:40 p.m.

Daytona Beach Shores police have begun evacuating buildings deemed unsafe is Tropical Storm Nicole further erodes the shoreline, which has already suffered erosion from Hurricane Ian at the end of September.

WESH has a list of buildings currently under evacuation.

SeaWorld Orlando closing Wednesday at 4 p.m. | 1:38 p.m.

Following Disney and Universal’s lead, SeaWorld Orlando will also close early Wednesday. The theme park will close at 4 p.m. with the intent to reopen on Friday.

In a statement, SeaWorld said it is following its “comprehensive weather preparedness plan” to ensure the safety of its animals and staff.

The resort’s Aquatica water park, and SeaWorld-owned Busch Gardens Tampa Bay, will also be closed Thursday and plan to reopen Friday.

- Katie Rice

Where to find water in Orlando | 1:14 p.m.

A Publix store in Orlando’s Baldwin Park neighborhood and a nearby Walmart Neighborhood Market on Semoran Boulevard both still had water Wednesday, although both stores had some empty shelves.

Publix was running a buy two, get one free promotion on some water, which could have contributed to its thinner shelves.

Outside, as the storm approaches, rain blew sideways in the parking lot onto shoppers, with some running to their vehicles.

- Austin Fuller

Universal Orlando and CityWalk to close at 5 p.m. | 12:25 p.m.

Shortly after Disney World’s announcement, Universal Orlando said it would close its theme parks and CityWalk entertainment district at 5 p.m. Wednesday due to the storm. The resort’s Volcano Bay water park was already closed Wednesday after the resort announced its closure Tuesday night.

All of Universal’s hotels are currently operating as normal to focus on their guests, according to the resort.

Universal plans to reopen in phases Thursday, likely with a delay from its regular schedule, as officials assess the storm’s impact.

Further details are available at Universal’s severe weather website, https://www.universalorlando.com/web/en/us/plan-your-visit/weather-updates/severe-weather.html.

- Katie Rice

Walt Disney World begins phased closing at 5 p.m. Wednesday | 11:58 a.m.

Walt Disney World is closing its theme parks in phases starting at 5 p.m. Wednesday and the attractions will remain closed through Thursday, the resort said just before noon. The theme parks will “likely not reopen” at their scheduled times Thursday morning, the update said.

Disney’s Animal Kingdom is closing at 5 p.m. Wednesday, Disney’s Hollywood Studios is closing at 6 p.m., and Magic Kingdom and Epcot are closing at 7 p.m.

Disney Springs is also closing at 7 p.m. Wednesday and will similarly stay closed through Thursday morning. Resort bus transportation from the shopping district will run until 8 p.m. Wednesday.

The resort is closing its Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground and the Treehouse Villas at Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort Wednesday afternoon and requiring all existing guests to leave by 3 p.m.

Disney representatives are contacting guests with reservations at these resorts to find them lodging elsewhere, according to the recent update.

Disney’s Galactic Starcruiser hotel will also cancel its scheduled “voyage” on Thursday and the hotel is contacting guests with existing reservations.

No other hotels are affected by closures so far. Resort hotels with character breakfasts will not include costumed characters Thursday morning so the hotels can accommodate additional guests for breakfast, the update said.

The resort is honoring existing dining reservations for Wednesday evening at Disney’s theme parks through varying times, depending on the closing time for each individual park. Further reservation details are available at disneyworld.com/weather.

Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon water park and the Winter Summerland and Fantasia mini golf courses will also be closed Thursday.

- Katie Rice

Seminole County issues voluntary evacuation order | 10:59 a.m.

Seminole County issued voluntary evacuations for individuals and families in mobile, manufactured homes and low-lying, flood prone homes. Individuals with special needs should also consider evacuation, the county said in a statement.

“Seminole County Emergency Management, in coordination with Seminole County Public Schools and Florida Department of Health in Seminole, have opened emergency shelters at Bentley Elementary School and Lawton Chiles Middle School,” the statement said. “Shelters should be considered a last resort; if possible, evacuees should stay with family or friends. Shelter clients will be assigned a space of 3′ x 7′; belongings should fit in this space if staying at a shelter.

The shelter locations are

• Bentley Elementary, 2190 S Oregon Ave., Sanford - This is a shelter for persons with special medical needs, it’s pet-friendly, and cots are available.

• Lawton Chiles Middle School - 1240 Sanctuary Dr., Oviedo - This is a general population shelter, it’s pet-friendly, and cots are not available.

Roger Simmons

DeSantis calls up National Guard | 10:41 a.m.

In Tallahassee, Gov. Ron DeSantis said 600 Florida National Guard members have been activated and several search and rescue teams were put on standby.

DeSantis noted that evacuation orders were in effect for some east coast counties and he urged residents to “listen to local officials and know your (evacuation) zone.”

He also warned that the exact storm track “can be dynamic ... so pay attention” to updated forecasts.

He also predicted widespread beach erosion that would add to the damage caused by Hurricane Ian in August.

“There will be power outages,” he said, adding that utility repair crews were ready to respond.

Mark Skoneki and Richard Tribou

Publix closing in Brevard, coastal Volusia | 10:39 a.m.

Publix stores in Brevard County as well as coastal Volusia County are expected to close early Wednesday.

No stores in inland Central Florida were listed on the Lakeland-based grocer’s website as having modified hours as of Wednesday morning.

Many Brevard County stores are listed as closing at noon Wednesday and reopening at 9 a.m. Thursday.

Five stores in coastal New Smyrna Beach, Daytona Beach Shores, Daytona Beach and Ormond Beach are listed as closing at 4 p.m. Wednesday and reopening at 10 a.m. Thursday.

Customers can check their store hours at publix.com.

Publix, which has more than 1,310 stores, list 65 as having modified hours Thursday morning.

Austin Fuller

Osceola sheriff: Stay at home | 10:36 a.m.

Osceola County Sheriff Marcos Lopez said today he is urging residents to stay at home and off the streets during Nicole.

He warned against anyone trying to take advantage of the storm situation with looting or price gouging, saying anyone caught doing either may spend the storm in the county jail.

He said there are no plans for a curfew in Osceola County at this time.

Roger Simmons

Daytona airport says it will close today | 10:26 a.m.

Daytona Beach International Airport announced that it will close at 12:30 p.m. today in advance of Tropical Storm Nicole.

“All flights after this time are canceled,” the airport tweeted. “The airport is scheduled to reopen at 4 a.m. Friday, Nov. 11. Passengers should check with their airlines for flight updates.”

Sanford Orlando International closed on Tuesday, while Orlando International will close at 4 p.m. today.

Roger Simmons

Disney World asks campers to leave | 10:20 a.m.

Walt Disney World is asking campsite guest in RVs and tents to leave its Fort Wilderness Resort and Campsite by 3 p.m. today, according to thedisneyblog.com.

The blog also said the Magic Kingdom, while still open, is canceling its extended theme park hours tonight.

Disney World announced Tuesday it plans to close its one active water park as well as three mini golf courses on Thursday.

That includes Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon, as Blizzard Beach was already closed for the season, Winter Summerland Miniature Golf, Fantasia Gardens and Fairways Miniature Golf.

“Walt Disney World Theme Parks are currently operating under normal conditions. Please continue to monitor news outlets for the latest weather information,” reads a statement on its website.

Disney Springs is also still operating under normal conditions.

Universal Orlando is also monitoring the storm, and announced late Tuesday that it will close its Volcano Bay water park starting Wednesday.

Duke Energy stages 5,000 workers to help restore power | 9:01 a.m.

By 9 a.m., more than 10,000 customers across the state were without power, mostly in Palm Beach, Martin, Miami-Dade and Brevard counties. according to poweroutage.us.

Duke Energy Florida said in a press release it has staged 5,000 workers including power line technicians, damage assessors, vegetation workers and support personnel across the state to help restore power after the storm.

Crews come from Ohio, Kentucky, North Carolina and South Carolina along with workers from other utility companies based in Arkansas, Georgia, Louisiana, Missouri, Tennessee, Virginia and others.

“We anticipate this storm will bring strong winds and heavy rain over many parts of our Florida service territory, including areas still recovering from Hurricane Ian,” said Todd Fountain, Duke Energy Florida storm director in the release. “Crews and resources are being staged in safe locations throughout the state to respond to outages as soon as it’s safe to do so. We will continue to adjust those resources as the storm approaches, and we urge customers to continue following the instructions and warnings of emergency management officials in your area.”

Richard Tribou

Port Canaveral shuts down ahead of storm | 8:45 a.m.

The U.S. Coast Guard Captain of the Port has set hurricane condition “ZULU” for Port Canaveral: Sustained gale force winds are predicted within 12 hours. Port Canaveral is closed and has ceased all waterside and vessel shoreside port operations.

The port had already ordered all vessels under 500 gross tons out of the water of the port on Tuesday. No cruise ships remain docked at the port, but are out at sea or elsewhere in the Caribbean steering away from the storm. Disney Wish, for instance, which normally stays in the Bahamas for short three- and four-night voyages, is in Cozumel, Mexico today.

Richard Tribou

Power outages begin to pick up | 7:18 a.m.

Power outages are beginning to pop up on the coast. By 7 a.m., more than 8,000 customers across the state were without power, mostly in Palm Beach and Brevard counties. according to poweroutage.us.

Richard Tribou

Health Department issues carbon monoxide warning | 7:08 a.m.

With power outages likely across the state, the Florida Department of Health in Orange County issued a warning to the public to take precautions using generators that could lead to carbon monoxide poisoning.

“Carbon monoxide is an invisible, odorless, tasteless gas, and is highly poisonous. Depending on the level of exposure, CO may cause fatigue, weakness, chest pains for those with heart disease, shortness of breath upon exertion, nausea, vomiting, headaches, confusion, lack of coordination, impaired vision, loss of consciousness, and in severe cases, death,” reads the statement.

The department asked the public to take the following precautions:’

• Do not burn charcoal or gas grills inside a house, garage, vehicle, tent or fireplace.

• NEVER use a generator indoors, including in homes, garages, basements, crawl spaces, and other enclosed or partially enclosed areas, even with ventilation. Opening doors and windows or using fans will not prevent CO build-up in the home.

• ALWAYS locate the unit outdoors on a dry surface, away from doors, windows, vents, and air conditioning equipment that could allow CO to come indoors. Follow the instructions that come with your generator.

• Install battery-operated CO alarms or plug-in CO alarms with battery back-up in your home, according to the manufacturer’s installation instructions. The CO alarms should be certified to the requirements of the latest safety standards for CO alarms (UL 2034, IAS 6-96, or CSA 6.19.01).

• Test your CO alarms frequently and replace dead batteries.

• REMEMBER that you cannot see or smell CO and portable generators can produce high levels of CO very quickly.

• If you start to feel sick, dizzy, or weak while using a generator, get to fresh air RIGHT AWAY. DO NOT DELAY.

• If you have a poisoning emergency, call your nearest Florida Poison Information Center at 1-800-222-1222. If the victim has collapsed or is not breathing, call 911 immediately.

Richard Tribou

Biden makes emergency declaration | 6:23 a.m.

President Biden issued an emergency declaration today for Florida that opens up federal assistance for emergency response in 45 of the state’s 67 counties. Here is the declaration below:

“Today, President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. declared that an emergency exists in the State of Florida and ordered Federal assistance to supplement State, tribal, and local response efforts due to the emergency conditions resulting from Tropical Storm Nicole beginning on November 7, 2022, and continuing.

“The President’s action authorizes the Department of Homeland Security, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), to coordinate all disaster relief efforts which have the purpose of alleviating the hardship and suffering caused by the emergency on the local population, and to provide appropriate assistance for required emergency measures, authorized under Title V of the Stafford Act, to save lives and to protect property and public health and safety, and to lessen or avert the threat of a catastrophe in the counties of Alachua, Bradford, Brevard, Broward, Charlotte, Citrus, Clay, Collier, Desoto, Dixie, Duval, Flagler, Gilchrist, Glades, Hardee, Hendry, Hernando, Highlands, Hillsborough, Indian River, Jefferson, Lake, Lee, Levy, Manatee, Marion, Martin, Miami-Dade, Nassau, Okeechobee, Orange, Osceola, Palm Beach, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk, Putnam, Sarasota, Seminole, St. Johns, St. Lucie, Sumter, Taylor, Volusia, and Wakulla, and the Miccosukee Tribe of Indians of Florida and the Seminole Tribe of Florida.

“Specifically, FEMA is authorized to identify, mobilize, and provide at its discretion, equipment and resources necessary to alleviate the impacts of the emergency. Emergency protective measures (Category B), including direct Federal assistance, under the Public Assistance program will be provided at 75 percent Federal funding.

“Deanne Criswell, Administrator, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Department of Homeland Security, named Thomas J. McCool as the Federal Coordinating Officer for Federal recovery operations in the affected areas.”

Richard Tribou

Disney to close water park, mini golf courses; Universal to close Volcano Bay | 5:31 p.m.

Walt Disney World announced Tuesday it plans to close its one active water park as well as three mini golf courses on Thursday.

That includes Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon, as Blizzard Beach was already closed for the season, Winter Summerland Miniature Golf, Fantasia Gardens and Fairways Miniature Golf.

“Walt Disney World Theme Parks are currently operating under normal conditions. Please continue to monitor news outlets for the latest weather information,” reads a statement on its website.

Disney Springs is also still operating under normal conditions.

Universal Orlando is also monitoring the storm, and announced late Tuesday that it will close its Volcano Bay water park starting Wednesday.

Richard Tribou

Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex to close Wednesday, Thursday | 5:25 p.m.

Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex announced it would be closed both Wednesday and Thursday “for the safety of our guests and crewmembers. Guests with reservations are being contacted.”

The attraction plans to reopen Friday after “a thorough assessment of the property has been completed.”

Richard Tribou

Orange County schools to close Thursday, Friday | 4:32 p.m.

Orange County Public Schools will be closed Thursday and Friday because of the storm, joining its Central Florida neighbors in shuttering campuses.

Statewide, at least 20 of 67 school districts have announced closures as Nicole threatens Florida.

OCPS also has canceled after-school activities for Wednesday, though a regular school day is planned.

Leslie Postal

Orange County to open 2 shelters | 3:47 p.m.

Officials announced Orange County will open at 7 a.m. Wednesday two shelters for residents during Tropical Storm Nicole:

• South Econ Recreation Center/South Econ Community Park, 3850 S Econlockhatchee Trail, Orlando, FL 32829

• West Orange Recreation Center, 309 SW Crown Point Road, Winter Garden, FL 34787

Both shelters are pet friendly. Orange County residents who need special needs or medical shelter should call 311.

Richard Tribou

Orlando airport to cease flights 4 p.m. Wednesday for storm Nicole | 3:30 p.m.

Orlando’s aviation authority announced Tuesday afternoon that the international airport will cease commercial flights at 4 p.m. Wednesday because of the approaching Nicole, which is forecast at that time to be moving west across the Bahamas and possibly strengthen into a hurricane.

Restarting flights will occur when “the situation and circumstances permit,” said airport spokesperson Carolyn Fennell.

Orlando International Airport has two terminals, operates five sets of shuttle trains and is served by dozens of domestic and international airlines, making the task of ceasing flights complex. Aviation authorities stress the airport will remain open for emergency or military aircraft.

The National Hurricane Center’s forecast Tuesday afternoon for Nicole showed the storm making landfall Thursday morning along Brevard County, weakening to a tropical storm and potential tracking over Orlando International Airport in south Orange County.

A spokesperson for the Orlando Sanford International Airport said it will also close at 4 p.m. Wednesday.

“If passengers have travel scheduled through SFB they need to contact their airline,” said Lauren Rowe in an email. “The airport is asking that people do not come to the airport. The airport is not a shelter. If travelers need assistance they can call the Seminole County Citizens Information line [at 407-665-0000].”

Melbourne Orlando International Airport will close at 2 p.m. Wednesday, but anticipates reopening Thursday evening.

Daytona Beach International Airport will close at 12:30 p.m. Wednesday, and is scheduled to reopen at 4 a.m. Friday.

Kevin Spear

Brevard recommends, Volusia, Flagler, Palm Beach order evacuations | 2:55 p.m.

Brevard County officials recommended Tuesday evacuation for residents on the barrier islands, mobile homes or manufactured housing, those in low-lying, flood-prone areas and any residents with special medical needs such as electrical dependence.

While effective at 7 a.m. Wednesday, a statement from Brevard County Emergency Management said residents may leave at any time.

“We encourage evacuating residents to stay with friends or family, hotels if they have the means, or use one of our public shelters,” the statement reads. “Shelter details are being finalized and will be announced later this afternoon. All shelters will be available for general population, families wishing to bring their pets, and those with medical special needs.”

To the north, Volusia County made mandatory evacuation orders effective at 10 a.m. Wednesday and need to be completed by 4 p.m.. The order applies to any and all areas east of the Intracoastal Waterway, manufactured home dwellers east of Interstate 95, all low-lying areas and areas prone to flooding, and all campsites and RV parks.

“This is necessary because many of our coastal properties sustained significant damage from Hurricane Ian, and with this storm’s wave runup and storm surge, some structures have increased vulnerability for further damage or collapse,” said Kevin Captain, community information director for Volusia County government.

Flagler County on Tuesday also announced mandatory evacuations beginning Wednesday on its barrier islands from Flagler Beach to Marineland as well as mobile homes, RVs and those living in low-lying areas.

Farther south, Palm Beach County announced an evacuation of coastal neighborhoods and other vulnerable areas. The county ordered the evacuation of zones A and B, which includes barrier islands, low-lying areas and mobile home communities, County Mayor Robert Weinroth said at a 2 p.m. news conference. The evacuations, which are effective at 7 a.m. Wednesday, apply to about 52,000 residents of mobile homes throughout the county and 67,000 coastal residents, Palm Beach County Administrator Verdenia Baker said.

“We saw what happened in Lee County,” Weinroth said, referring to the storm surge from Hurricane Ian that drowned coastal residents. “There were people who stayed put because they felt that there was not an emergency, and a lot of those people regretted their decision.”

Richard Tribou, Sun Sentinel

SunRail suspending service starting Wednesday | 2:04 p.m.

Florida Department of Transportation announced it would shut down SunRail service beginning Wednesday, with crews working to prepare the corridor to render it safe prior to the arrival of Tropical Storm Nicole.

Crews will secure railroad gates at 126 crossings on the 61.5 miles of the corridor and remove longer railroad gates. They will inspect and store the SunRail train fleet and secure railroad equipment along the corridor.

“After the storm, and when conditions stabilize, a complete inspection of the entire corridor is necessary to assess the storm’s impact and to prepare the system to reinstate rail service for SunRail, as well as freight and Amtrak operations,” according to the press release. “Restoration of service includes safety inspections, reinstalling gates, and removal of any obstruction on the railroad tracks.”

Richard Tribou

UCF announces closures this week, Rollins to stay open, Stetson, FIT go online | 1:51 p.m.

The University of Central Florida is closing its campuses on Wednesday and Thursday because of Tropical Storm Nicole, which is expected to become a hurricane when it hits the Florida coast.

UCF was already scheduled to be closed on Friday because of Veterans Day.

“Though Tropical Storm Nicole’s impact is forecast to be weaker than Hurricane Ian, we are making these decisions in the interest of our community’s safety and well-being,” an email from the school read.

All assignments are suspended while the university if closed. UCF Housing will remain open and operational through the storm for all residents, and campus dining halls will remain open until 3 p.m. Wednesday.

“We encourage you to use this time to take storm preparations seriously and to stay indoors and off the road once tropical storm-force conditions arrive late Wednesday afternoon.”

After the storm passes, officials will assess campus conditions and provide updates on its reopening.

“We hope that services that would normally operate on holidays and weekends will reopen Friday according to their scheduled holiday and weekend hours,” the email stated.

Rollins College in Winter Park opted to keep school running.

“At this time we do not expect interruptions to residential campus life,” the school posted to Twitter. “Residential halls will remain open. Faculty may offer flexible instruction & virtual learning options beginning Nov. 9 at 4 p.m. through Nov. 11.”

In Volusia County, Stetson in DeLand opted to move all classes online beginning noon Wednesday through Thursday night with students allowed to remain on campus in residential buildings, but required to shelter in place in their dorms or in the Lynn Business Center or Carlton Union Building, which both operate on generators. Bethune-Cookman University in Daytona Beach has not posted any school updates to its websites.

In Brevard County, the Florida Institute of Technology in Melbourne also opted to go online Wednesday and Thursday with university offices and academic buildings closed except for essential personnel reporting to campus.

Richard Tribou, Mark Skoneki

Seminole, Lake, Volusia County schools also to close | 12:43 p.m.

Seminole County Public Schools will be closed Wednesday, Thursday and Friday because of the storm and the potential need to use a few campuses as shelters for residents unable to safely remain in their homes, the district announced Tuesday.

Lake County public schools will be closed Thursday because of the storm and its anticipated high winds that could make it dangerous for school buses, the district announced Tuesday. Lake schools will be open Wednesday but all after-school activities that day are canceled. The district already planned to be closed Friday in observance of Veterans Day.

Also on Tuesday afternoon, Volusia County officials announced all district public schools will be closed Wednesday and Thursday. School was already out Friday for Veterans Day. Shelters in Volusia will be open by 10 a.m. Wednesday at Hinson Middle School and Heritage Middle School for the Special Needs, Medically Fragile population only; Creekside Middle School and University High School for the general population. Makeup days for the missed school will be made up in the second semester of the school year.

Leslie Postal, Richard Tribou

NWS issued inland hurricane warnings | 11:42 a.m.

The National Weather Service in Melbourne along with the National Hurricane Center have now issued hurricane warnings for coastal Volusia County, as well as all of Brevard, Indian River, Saint Lucie and Martin Counties, including the adjacent Atlantic waters. A tropical storm warning is in effect for all interior counties of east central Florida and inland Volusia County.

Richard Tribou

Another Orlando sandbag location | 11:33 a.m.

The City of Orlando announced sandbags are available at the City’s Streets and Stormwater Division at 1010 Woods Ave. until 3 p.m. or until supplies last - Up to 10 sandbags each. Residents should bring an ID showing proof of City of Orlando residency. Bags, shovels and sand will be provided on-site.

Richard Tribou

Osceola, Brevard County schools to close for storm | 10:33 a.m.

Osceola County public schools will close an hour earlier than usual Wednesday afternoon and remain closed Thursday because of the storm, officials announced Tuesday morning.

The decision to close campuses was made because “deteriorating weather conditions are anticipated,” the district said in a statement.

Osceola schools were already scheduled to be closed Friday in observance of Veterans Day.

The district plans to resume classes as usual on Monday, Nov. 14.

Brevard County later announced it was closing Wednesday and Thursday as well, also already off on Friday for Veterans Day.

Seminole and Volusia County school updates are set to be announced this afternoon. No information has been shared about Orange or Lake County’s decision timelines.

Leslie Postal, Richard Tribou

Seminole County to update storm preps | 9:35 a.m.

Seminole County’s Office of Emergency Management will hold a press conference at the Public Safety Building in the Emergency Operations Center. A livestream will be provided on youtube.com/seminolecounty and SGTV, Spectrum Channel 498.

Updates will be made by:

• Alan Harris, Chief Administrator for the Office of Emergency Management

• Matt Kinley, Seminole County Fire Department Chief

• Serita Beamon, Seminole County Public Schools Superintendent

Richard Tribou

Port Canaveral at condition ‘X-Ray’ | 8:52 a.m.

The U.S. Coast Guard has implemented Port Condition “X-Ray” for Port Canaveral.

“Sustained gale force winds are predicted within 48 hours,” reads an advisory. “Port Canaveral remains open and conducting normal port operations, but anticipates limited waterside and vessel shoreside port operations will follow as conditions change.”

The port on Monday had already ordered the evacuation of all vessels under 500 gross tons, something that needs to be done before the port status changed to “Yankee.”

Richard Tribou

Sandbag locations open in Orange, Seminole, Osceola | 8:13 a.m.

Counties and cities are offering residents sandbags. Here’s where to get yours:

Starting Tuesday from 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. in Orange County:

• Downey Park, 10107 Flowers Ave., Orlando

• Fort Christmas Historical Park, 1300 Fort Christmas Road

• Clarcona Horse Park, 3535 Damon Road, Apopka

• Orange County Multi-Cultural Center, 7149 W. Colonial Drive

Seminole will operate several sandbag locations from 8 a.m. - 7 p.m.:

• Old Geneva Volunteer Fire Station, 217 Second St., Geneva

• Lake Monroe Wayside Park, 4150 Highway 17, Sanford

• Boombah Sports Complex, 3450 E. Lake Mary Blvd., Sanford

• Sanford Public Works Complex, 800 W. Fulton St., Sanford

In Osceola County, sandbag operations continue Tuesday:

• Osceola Heritage Park, 1211 Shakerag Road, Kissimmee. Residents can fill 25 sandbags per household and the county will provide bags on a first-come first-served basis.

Residents can fill 10 empty sandbags at the Ocoee Public Works Department, 301 Maguire Road. Residents must bring valid ID and proof of residency.

Pick up sandbags in Oviedo from 8 a.m.-7 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday from the Public Works Maintenance Yard, 1725 Evans St.

Winter Park residents can pick up sandbags Tuesday from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Ward Park, 288 Perth Lane.

Ryan Gillespie, Martin Comas, Natalia Jaramillo

Subtropical Storm Nicole picks up speed | 7 a.m.

As of the 7 a.m. NHC advisory Tuesday, Nicole is located about 385 miles east-northeast of the northwestern Bahamas and 520 miles east of Melbourne Beach, Florida, up now to 50 mph sustained winds and moving west-northwest at 8 mph. Forecasters expect the storm to turn west and even west-southwest into tonight, then toward the northwest on Thursday.

The NHC has kept a hurricane watch in place from the Brevard-Volusia county line south to Hallandale Beach as well as Lake Okeechobee and a tropical storm warning from Hallandale Beach up to Altamaha Sound, Georgia. On Tuesday, the NHC added Florida’s west coast from north of Bonita Beach up to the Ochlockonee River to a tropical storm watch.

Inland tropical storm warnings were issued by the National Weather Service in Melbourne for Brevard, Lake, Orange, Osceola, Seminole and Volusia counties while Marion, Polk and Sumter counties are under a tropical storm watch.

Richard Tribou

NWS issues river flood warning, flood watch | 4:30 a.m.

While damaging winds are a concern, Central Florida, which is still draining from the flood damage of September’s Hurricane Ian, can expect more rain from the system. The NHC said Nicole will bring 3 to 5 inches of rain with some areas up to 7 inches across the Florida peninsula. The NWS in Melbourne said Central Florida could see closer to 6 inches of rain across eastern Osceola and Brevard Counties northward across the Saint Johns River basin.

“Urban and poor drainage flooding is increasingly likely, especially where the water table remains high,” the NWS stated. “The combination of heavy rainfall and strong northeast winds could also cause additional flooding and standing water concerns over the Saint Johns River basin, where river flood warnings remain in effect. A flood watch will likely be issued for all of east central Florida later today.”

The coasts of Brevard and Volusia are also subject to 8- to 10-foot waves beginning today growing bigger as the system approaches, the NWS said.

“Numerous life-threatening rip currents will continue. The strong winds and high surf will combine with ongoing high astronomical tides to bring significant storm surge and major beach erosion around the times of the next several high tide cycles from Tuesday through Thursday,” the NWS said. “Coastal areas of Volusia County which suffered serious damage from Hurricane Ian remain particularly vulnerable to additional beach erosion and inundation from coastal flooding.”

The NHC’s storm surge warning indicated from 3 to 5 feet could be seen from North Palm Beach up to Georgia as well as 2-4 feet from the mouth of the St. Johns River inland south to Georgetown, Florida in Putnam County.

Richard Tribou