NHC Warns Hurricane Could Hit Florida After 2022 Midterm Elections

A model showing the location of Subtropical Storm Nicole as of Nov. 7, 2022. NHC

The National Hurricane Center (NHC) has issued watches for Subtropical Storm Nicole, which is on track to approach Florida’s eastern coast later this week.

Nicole, which is forecast to turn into at least a Category 1 hurricane later this week, is predicted to affect Florida beginning the night of Nov. 8 or the following morning, according to an NHC model. The system, located in the western Atlantic Ocean, is currently hundreds of miles northeast of the Bahamas. The storm, currently with maximum sustained winds of about 45 miles per hour, is moving northwest at 9 miles per hour.

“A Hurricane Watch has been issued for the east coast of Florida from the Volusia/Brevard County Line to Hallandale Beach and for Lake Okeechobee,” the NHC stated on Nov. 7.

A hurricane watch means that hurricane conditions are possible within the watch area within about 48 hours.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, a Republican who’s up for reelection during the 2022 midterms on Nov. 8, issued a warning to Floridians on Nov. 6.

“I encourage all Floridians to be prepared and make a plan in the event a storm impacts Florida,” he said in a statement. “We will continue to monitor the path and trajectory of [the storm] and we remain in constant contact with all state and local government partners.”

The state is still recovering from Hurricane Ian, which hit Florida’s western coast as a Category 4 storm several weeks ago. Most of the damage from the storm occurred south of Tampa Bay, located on the other side of the state.

DeSantis called on residents to review disaster plans and keep their gas tanks at least half-full in the meantime.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis speaks in a neighborhood affected by Hurricane Ian at Fisherman's Wharf in Fort Myers, Fla., on Oct. 5, 2022. Olivier Douliery/AFP via Getty Images

“As the Division continues to support communities in their recovery from Hurricane Ian, we are now closely monitoring 98L,” Florida Department of Emergency Management Director Kevin Guthrie said in a Nov. 7 statement. “It is critical for Floridians to review their disaster preparedness plans and follow all directions from local officials in anticipation of potential impacts.”

After Ian made landfall, DeSantis issued an order extending early voting days in three hard-hit counties and authorizing election supervisors to designate additional early voting locations. Voters there can cast ballots at any polling place in their registered county through Election Day. Election supervisors are also permitted to relocate or consolidate polling places if necessary.

It isn’t clear if DeSantis is readying any election-related plans ahead of Nicole’s potential landfall.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Editor’s note: A previous headline for this article erroneously stated that the NHC issued a hurricane warning for Florida. The Epoch Times regrets this error.