Tropical storm Nicole heads for hurricane status

Nicole made the grade for full-fledged Tropical Storm and is on track for Hurricane-levels winds by the time its hits the Bahamas and Florida, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) said in its latest update at 10:00 eastern time.

"The NHC forecast calls for Nicole to become a hurricane when it is near the northwest Bahamas and remain a hurricane when it reaches Florida," forecaster wrote in the latest update.

A tighter radius of maximum winds and improving convection suggested Nicole made the transition to a full-fledged tropical storm, forecasters wrote.

The NHC warns that its projected course for Nicole is subject to doubts. Different models have varying results further north or south, the NHC warns.

One way or the other, a good portion of the eastern seaboard will feel the heat.  Nicole is likely to turn north-east after Florida landfall for a near-coastal run.

Hurricane conditions are likely in portions of the north-western Bahamas on Wednesday, where a Hurricane Warning is in effect. Hurricane conditions are possible across portions of the Florida coast beginning late Wednesday or Wednesday night, where a Hurricane Watch is in effect. A storm surge with "large and damaging waves" is expected along much of Florida and Georgia east coast. Heavy rainfall is likely Wednesday and Thursday across the Florida peninsula.

At 10:00 eastern time, the eye of Nicole was some 350 miles (560 km) NE of the north-western Bahamas or 460 miles (740 km) east of West Palm Beach, Florida. The system is moving 280 degrees west at 9 miles per hour (15 km/h) bearing maximum sustained wind speeds of 50 mph (85 km/h)

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