Tropical Storm Nicole, located about 345 miles south of Bermuda, was strengthened to hurricane status, the National Hurricane Center said on Thursday afternoon.
The storm packs winds of 70 mph.
“Some additional strengthening is likely over the next day or so, followed by slow weakening,” said the NHC in its most recent advisory.
Hurricane Nicole, as it is now called, is located east of Hurricane Matthew, a Category 4 storm that is bearing down on Florida and is expected to impact the state, South Carolina, North Carolina, and Georgia until Saturday.
Nicole is moving toward the north-northwest at around 7 mph.
According to Florida broadcaster WTSP, Nicole is no threat to the United States. There are currently no coastal watches or warnings for the storm.
Nicole, the fourteenth named storm of the season, is expected to gain strength over the next two days before it weakens.
In a press conference, Florida Gov. Rick Scott warned on Thursday that Hurricane Matthew “will kill you,” telling 1.5 million Florida residents to move away from the coast.
“Do not surf,” Scott said, according to Weather.com. “Do not go on the beach. This will kill you.” Scott said Floridians on Atlantic coast should expect to lose power, “possibly for a long period of time.”
“We don’t know exactly where this storm’s going,” Scott said. “Don’t trust this track.”
