Millions of Floridians were on an emergency footing on Tuesday as a subtropical storm steamed towards the state's Atlantic coast, threatening to drive a dangerous storm surge in the area within the next two days.
Storm Nicole, packing maximum sustained winds of 80 kilometres per hour, was located about 615km north-west of the Bahamas as it moved west towards Florida, the National Hurricane Centre said in an advisory on Tuesday morning.
With the storm expected to strengthen throughout the day as it travelled towards Florida, about 18 million people along the state's Atlantic coast were under NHC-issued watches and warnings.
The area did not take a direct hit from Hurricane Ian six weeks ago, but it did receive heavy rains and strong winds from the catastrophic storm that claimed more than 140 lives and caused $60 billion in damage after slamming into the state's Gulf Coast.
Aftermath after Hurricane Ian landfall in US — in pictures
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Wind gusts, blowing down King Street, twist umbrellas during Hurricane Ian in Charleston, South Carolina. AP -
Flood waters on the streets of the South Battery in Charleston, South Carolina, as Hurricane Ian blows through on September 30. AP -
People wander the wreckage at a beach community in Bonita Springs, Florida, in the aftermath of Hurricane Ian. AFP -
A US Coast Guard helicopter provided residents of Sanibel Island in Florida with an airlift after Hurricane Ian blew through. AP -
A satellite view taken by imaging company Planet Labs shows damage inflicted on an island in the Sanibel Causeway in Florida by Hurricane Ian. AP -
A combination of satellite images from Maxar Technologies shows San Carlos Boulevard in Fort Myers Beach, Florida, on August 17, top, and after Hurricane Ian, bottom, on September 30. AFP -
Householder John Quigley carries a piece of artwork made by his daughter, the only item he found to salvage from the ruins of his home after Hurricane Ian, as he pulls his girlfriend's son Sebastian in a cart in Fort Myers Beach, Florida. AP -
Fort Myers Beach in Florida after Hurricane Ian. AP -
Clean-up at a restaurant in Georgetown, South Carolina, close to where Hurricane Ian made landfall on September 30. Reuters -
Debris from beachfront homes and businesses covers a road after Hurricane Ian hit Fort Myers Beach in Florida. AP -
Rescuer Eduardo Tocuya hopes to reunite a dog with its owners after Hurricane Ian hit Fort Myers Beach in Florida. AP -
The Matlacha Isles west of Fort Myers in Florida after Hurricane Ian made its mark. EPA -
A damage survey party at work after Hurricane Ian hit Fort Myers Beach in Florida. AP -
Residents of Fort Myers Beach in Florida pick up the pieces after Hurricane Ian blew through. AFP -
The collapsed Sanibel Causeway in the aftermath of Hurricane Ian in Sanibel, Florida. AFP -
People clear debris in the aftermath of Hurricane Ian in Fort Myers Beach, Florida. AFP -
Robert Leisure on what was the second floor of his business premises in the aftermath of Hurricane Ian in Fort Myers, Florida. AFP -
People clear debris in the aftermath of Hurricane Ian in Fort Myers Beach, Florida. AFP
On Monday, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis issued a state of emergency for 34 east coast counties, saying it was “in an abundance of caution” so that the area's residents and businesses can prepare.
“While this storm does not, at this time, appear that it will become much stronger, I urge all Floridians to be prepared and to listen to announcements from local emergency management officials,” Mr DeSantis said in a statement.
On its forecast track, the centre of Nicole will approach the north-western Bahamas on Tuesday and move near or over the islands on Wednesday before it approaches the east coast of Florida later in the day.
Residents were preparing for the storm on Tuesday on the Bahamian islands of Abaco and Grand Bahama, which were battered by Hurricane Dorian three years ago.
Holmes Rolle of West Grand Bahama said he does not plan to leave his home or shutter the windows.
“I just believe that, at this time and with the type of storm, it just calls for some winds and plenty rain,” Mr Rolle said in a telephone interview.
“It's going to take more than a Category 1 hurricane or so to really move stuff and have them flying around.”
Nicole's centre was then expected to move across central and northern Florida into southern Georgia on Thursday, the NHC said, warning of dangerous storm surge along with heavy winds and strong rains.
“This is a life-threatening situation,” the service said. “Persons located within these areas should take all necessary actions to protect life and property from rising water and the potential for other dangerous conditions.”
