United States
Hurricane Nicole weakens
A public facility and a lifeguard tower have partially collapsed due to a storm surge from Hurricane Nicole. photo
© John Raoux/AP/dpa
Storm Nicole is heading toward the US East Coast. The hurricane has already made landfall in Florida.
Hurricane Nicole hit the east coast of the US state of Florida. In the morning (10:00 a.m. CET), its center was around 95 kilometers southeast of Orlando, according to the National Hurricane Center in Miami. It weakened over land and was downgraded to a tropical storm with wind speeds of 110 kilometers per hour. The meteorologists continued to warn of strong winds, dangerous waves and heavy rain.
Hurricane Ian only caused severe devastation in Florida at the end of September. The authorities have now called on residents to leave buildings deemed unsafe.
In Daytona Beach, which is still suffering severely from the consequences of “Ian”, at least eleven buildings are in danger of collapsing, the broadcaster CNN reported, citing the local authorities. In Volusia County, 22 homes were evacuated. schools were closed. According to CNN, Orlando International Airport ceased flight operations on Wednesday afternoon.
Hurricane season from June to November
According to CNN, Nicole was the first hurricane to make landfall in the United States in nearly 40 years in the month of November. The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1st to November 30th. In November, however, not many hurricanes usually form. Wind speeds of 119 kilometers per hour or more are called a hurricane.
“Nicole” had previously moved to the Bahamas, southwest of Florida. According to initial media reports, flooding occurred on the Abaco Islands and the island of Grand Bahama. Meteorologists expect the storm to move towards the US states of Georgia and South Carolina.
Tropical cyclones form over warm ocean water. The number of severe storms is not increasing due to climate change, but the probability is.