Wednesday live updates: Tropical Storm Nicole on track to become a hurricane - Tampa Bay Times

The Tampa Bay country could statesman to consciousness the effects of Tropical Storm Nicole arsenic aboriginal arsenic Wednesday night, according to the National Hurricane Center, and forecasters are urging residents to decorativeness their tempest preparations by this afternoon.

Nicole is expected to fortify into a Category 1 hurricane erstwhile it reaches the Bahamas and stay a hurricane erstwhile it hits the eastbound seashore of Florida connected Wednesday night.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has declared a state of emergency for 34 counties, including Hillsborough and Pasco counties. The full Tampa Bay country is presently nether a tropical tempest warning.

Here’s what to cognize astir the storm:

5:40 p.m.

The metropolis of Gulfport operations volition stay unfastened Thursday during Tropical Storm Nicole, according to a connection from the city.

“City of Gulfport Operations specified arsenic Sanitation, Public Safety, the Building Department, Utilities, Public Works, and the Library volition beryllium progressive and performing mean activities connected Thursday arsenic the upwind safely permits,” the metropolis said successful a statement. “All Recreation Center and Multipurpose Senior Center classes and activities including the Gulfport Extended Minibus Service programme person been cancelled for Thursday.”

5:23 p.m.

As Tropical Storm Nicole approaches, the upwind is picking up astir the Tampa Bay country and making for unsmooth water. According to the National Hurricane Center, tropical storm-force winds are expected to scope Tampa Bay by Wednesday evening.

4:22 p.m.

Pinellas County autobus work is scheduled to stay open, but the Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority volition halt work if the tempest has sustained Tropical Storm Force Winds of 40 miles per hour.

”The information of our drivers and passengers is ever our apical precedence astatine PSTA. We are committed to providing service, arsenic agelong arsenic it’s harmless to bash so,” said Brad Miller, the bureau CEO. “As we support a adjacent ticker connected Tropical Storm Nicole path, we volition proceed to nonstop updates to support our assemblage informed.”

4:13 p.m.

The Hillsborough County Supervisor of Elections Office announced that its offices volition beryllium closed Thursday. However, voters who request to resoluteness issues with provisional and message ballots tin inactive person services astatine the Robert L. Gilder Elections Service Center astatine 2514 N. Falkenburg Road and the Fred B. Karl County Center astatine 601 E. Kennedy Blvd.

Voters person until 5 p.m. Thursday to supply grounds of their eligibility to vote, aft filling retired a provisional ballot, oregon resoluteness issues with their signatures connected their message ballots.

3:57 p.m.

All Largo metropolis facilities volition beryllium closed Thursday until noon, with the reopening clip taxable to change, based connected weather. Trash pickup is connected clasp Thursday owed to the tempest and connected Friday owed to Veterans Day.

The metropolis of St. Petersburg plans to person facilities run usually Thursday and the metropolis assembly inactive is expected to meet, contempt the storm. The metropolis is rescheduling its outdoor Veterans Day ceremonial to Dec. 9, however, according to a metropolis quality release.

3:51 p.m.

Friday is Veterans Day, but owed to imaginable impacts from Tropical Storm Nicole, the Bay Pines VA Healthcare System has moved its Veterans Day ceremonial to Sunday, Nov. 13. The ceremony, which volition beryllium the archetypal 1 held successful idiosyncratic since 2019, volition instrumentality spot astatine the aesculapian center, 10000 Bay Pines Blvd. successful St. Petersburg, successful the courtyard down Building 37 astatine 11 a.m. About 600 radical are expected to attend, and retired Marine Corps Lt. Gen. Martin R. Steele volition beryllium the impermanent speaker.

The national courthouse successful Tampa besides volition adjacent tomorrow. Pinellas County courts volition stay unfastened Thursday, said Ashli Doss, communications coordinator for the Pinellas County Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller.

--Sharon Kennedy Wynne, Dan Sullivan and Natalie Weber, Times Staff Writers

3:32 p.m.

Red Tide was recovered this week successful the waters disconnected Anna Maria Island, and present experts fearfulness Tropical Storm Nicole could perchance marque conditions worse for Tampa Bay.

Extra runoff from rainfall could mean much algal-bloom-fueling nutrients dump into the bay. That whitethorn — oregon whitethorn not ― spark much Red Tide.

“Of people our eyes are connected immoderate further rainfall and runoff that mightiness hap successful effect to Tropical Storm Nicole’s passage,” said Ed Sherwood, enforcement manager of the Tampa Bay Estuary Program. “With Red Tide present contiguous successful little Tampa Bay, further nutrient loads whitethorn exacerbate the bloom if salinities stay high.”

--Max Chesnes, Times Staff Writer

3:30 p.m.

The Hillsborough County Tax Collector’s Office volition beryllium closed owed to Tropical Storm Nicole connected Thursday and Veteran’s Day connected Friday.

“For the information of our employees and for residents of Hillsborough County we are closing our offices connected Thursday based connected recommendations from section exigency officials,” Tax Collector Nancy Millan said successful a statement. “We volition proceed to show this tempest and inquire everyone to heed the warnings and proceed to beryllium safe.”

Pasco Department of Health Offices besides announced closures Thursday owed to the storm, arsenic good arsenic Friday successful observance of Veteran’s Day.

“The Florida Department of Health continues to coordinate with section exigency managers connected assets requests and is on-site astatine the State Emergency Operation Center successful Tallahassee responding to Tropical Storm Nicole. For aesculapian emergencies, delight dial 911,” the region said successful a quality release.

--Amy Gehrt, Times Breaking News Editor

3:13 p.m.

Forecasters with the National Weather Service of Tampa Bay said the country could spot winds ranging from 58 mph to 73 mph. They encouraged locals to wrapper up tempest preparations and debar wandering into areas experiencing reverse tempest surges.

2:48 p.m.

DeSantis expanded the authorities of exigency for Tropical Storm Nicole to include 11 further counties, including Pinellas and Hernando, the News Service of Florida reported.

2:15 p.m.

The Clearwater Aquarium said it plans to stay unfastened Thursday and Friday “and is connected standby to assistance our stranding web partners crossed the authorities of Florida.”

1:58 p.m.

Most of Saint Leo University’s campuses volition beryllium closed Thursday, the schoolhouse announced, including its University Campus successful St. Leo, and its locations successful East Pasco, Tampa, the MacDill Air Force Base, Ocala, Lake City, Jacksonville and the Naval Station Mayport.

Night classes for these locations connected Wednesday volition beryllium held online.

1:39 p.m.

Pinellas County Schools canceled classes and extracurricular activities Thursday. Normal schedules volition resume Friday.

“Bridges whitethorn beryllium closed during the greeting commute hours, and Pinellas whitethorn acquisition localized powerfulness outages,” the territory said successful a statement. “Although meteorologists bash expect our country to wide successful the afternoon, greeting upwind conditions whitethorn not let students and unit to question safely.”

--Marlene Sokol, Times Staff Writer

1:30 p.m.

Hillsborough officials announced that each region libraries, parks, preserves and recreation centers volition beryllium closed. Public meetings are postponed and a greenways unfastened location scheduled for 6 p.m. Thursday volition beryllium rescheduled.

Garbage, gait discarded and recycling pickup volition beryllium paused Thursday and resume Friday.

County offices and astir facilities volition proceed to beryllium closed Friday successful observance of Veterans Day. All parks, including canine parks, skate parks, quality preserves, trails, splash pads and vessel ramps are scheduled to reopen.

--C.T. Bowen, Times Staff Writer

1:28 p.m.

Busch Gardens announced that it volition beryllium closed Thursday, on with SeaWorld Orlando and Aquatica Orlando, which is besides closed Wednesday. Tickets intended for usage connected the parkland closure dates person been extended done Dec. 31.

Universal Orlando Resort volition close Wednesday astatine 5 p.m., though edifice hotels volition stay open. The parkland said it anticipates a phased reopening Thursday.

--Chris Tisch, Times Senior News Editor, and Kelly A. Stefani, Times Staff Writer

1:09 p.m.

Tampa Mayor Jane Castor announced that metropolis offices volition beryllium closed Thursday. Trash pickup work volition besides beryllium suspended from Thursday done Monday.

“I promote everyone to reappraisal their catastrophe proviso kits, and guarantee they person supplies including medicine, h2o and non-perishable food,” Castor said successful a statement. “The metropolis of Tampa volition proceed to show the way and trajectory of the storm. We stay successful changeless interaction with each authorities and section authorities partners.”

--Charlie Frago, Times Staff Writer

1 p.m.

Pasco County officials declared a authorities of emergency and said it would unfastened the Mike Fasano Regional Hurricane Shelter successful Hudson astatine 7 p.m. The structure is located astatine 11611 Denton Ave. No evacuations person been ordered astatine this time.

--Barbara Behrendt, Times Staff Writer

12:55 p.m.

A University of South Florida Marine Science prof says Tampa Bay shouldn’t person to interest astir large tempest surge.

“Sea level volition archetypal spell down, but not astir arsenic overmuch arsenic for Ian oregon Irma, followed by a rise,” said USF prof Yonggang Liu.

--Max Chesnes, Times Staff Writer

12:48 p.m.

The Associated Press reports that residents are being asked to evacuate from obstruction islands successful Flagler, Palm Beach, Martin and Volusia counties. Former President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago nine is located successful 1 of these zones. Security hung up erstwhile asked by the Associated Press whether the nine would beryllium evacuated.

12:14 p.m.

Disney announced plans to commencement closing successful phases astatine 5 p.m. Wednesday, the Orlando Sentinel reports. The parkland says connected its website that taxable parks “will apt not reopen” during their usually scheduled times Thursday morning.

12 p.m.

Tropical Storm Nicole made landfall connected Great Abaco Island successful the Bahamas with upwind speeds of astir 70 mph, according to an 11:55 a.m. update from the National Hurricane Center. The storm’s upwind speeds are conscionable 4 mph shy of a Category 1 storm.

--Michaela Mulligan, Times Staff Writer

11:45 a.m.

The University of South Florida announced it volition modulation to remote-only classes connected Thursday. Exceptions see USF Health objective operations, USF Health pupil objective rotations, aesculapian schoolhouse classes, USF Athletics teams and unit arsenic determined by the manager of athletics and indispensable oregon captious personnel.

--Aya Diab, Times Staff Writer

11:39 a.m.

The 13th Judicial Circuit announced that it volition adjacent courts connected Thursday. Pinellas and Pasco courts bash not yet person immoderate plans to adjacent Thursday, according to spokesperson Steve Thompson.

Tampa International Airport besides announced plans to enactment open.

--Dan Sullivan, Natalie Weber and Bernadette Berdychowski, Times Staff Writers

11:31 a.m.

Pinellas County Schools pledges to merchandise a determination by 4 p.m. Wednesday connected whether schools volition stay successful cognition Thursday.

“Pinellas County Schools is successful changeless connection with Pinellas County Emergency Management to show Tropical Storm Nicole, including forecasted upwind speeds, rainfall and flooding, and impacts to our roadways and transportation,” the territory said successful a Tweet.

--Thomas C. Tobin, Times Education Editor

11 a.m.

Water recedes retired of the Tampa Bay up of Tropical Storm Nicole. Ahead of hurricanes and large storms, the bay sometimes experiences “reverse tempest surge” that is caused by tempest winds pushing h2o retired of the bay. Before Hurricane Ian, officials warned that it is highly unsafe to locomotion connected the emptied shores of the bay.

--Matt Cohen, Times Staff Writer

10:34 a.m.

Hillsborough County announced that it volition unfastened an emergency evacuation shelter astatine noon Wednesday, located astatine Erwin Technical College, 2010 E. Hillsborough Ave. successful Tampa.

The structure is intended for those who person concerns astir staying successful their homes during the storm, including radical who trust connected energy for their aesculapian needs oregon those who unrecorded successful manufactured homes. The structure is accepting pets, but they indispensable beryllium kept successful a bearer oregon connected a leash.

The region declared a authorities of exigency Wednesday morning, but has not ordered immoderate evacuations.

--C.T. Bowen, Times Staff Writer

10 a.m.

Hillsborough County announced that it would beryllium closing schools connected Thursday successful anticipation of tropical tempest Nicole. Pasco schools had previously announced that they would besides adjacent schools connected Thursday owed to the storm. Pinellas County has not announced whether it volition adjacent its schools.

--Marlene Sokol, Times Staff Writer

8 a.m.

In its morning update, the National Hurricane Center says the eastbound seashore of Florida is already experiencing tropical tempest conditions. The westbound seashore of Florida is expected to acquisition tempest conditions Wednesday night. The tempest is expected to marque landfall connected Florida’s eastbound seashore arsenic a Category 1 Hurricane by Wednesday night.

Spectrum Bay News 9 forecasts that the Tampa Bay country volition spot its strongest winds — up to 30 to 40 mph with gusts up to 50 mph — by precocious Wednesday nighttime and Thursday morning. Most areas successful Tampa Bay volition get astir 2 to 4 inches of rain, but higher amounts are possible, according to Bay News 9.

Hernando County announces that it volition close schools connected Thursday owed to tempest conditions from Nicole. Pasco-Hernando State College volition besides close.

--Michaela Mulligan, Times Staff Writer

• • •

2022 Tampa Bay Times Hurricane Guide

IT'S STORM SEASON: Get acceptable and enactment informed astatine tampabay.com/hurricane.

FORECAST: The ‘cone of uncertainty’ tin beryllium confusing. Here’s however to work it.

MODELS: How reliable are hurricane models? Hurricane Ian gave america immoderate answers.

EVACUATIONS: Fewer evacuated to shelters during Hurricane Ian. How tin Tampa Bay enactment safe?

WHAT TO EXPECT IN A SHELTER: What to bring — and not bring — positive accusation connected pets, keeping it civilian and more.

WHAT TO DO IF HURRICANE DAMAGES YOUR HOME: Stay calm, past telephone your security company.

PREPARING FOR A HURRICANE: Make a plan, perceive to experts, and cognize there’s assistance disposable if you request it.

DOUBLE-CHECK: Checklists for gathering each kinds of hurricane kits

PHONE IT IN: Use your smartphone to support your data, documents and photos.

SELF-CARE: Protect your intelligence wellness during a hurricane.

• • •

Rising Threat: A peculiar study connected flood hazard and clime change

PART 1: The Tampa Bay Times partnered with the National Hurricane Center for a revealing look astatine aboriginal storms.

PART 2: Even anemic hurricanes tin origin immense tempest surges. Experts accidental radical don't recognize the risk.

PART 3: Tampa Bay has immense flood risk. What should we bash astir it?

INTERACTIVE MAP: Search your Tampa Bay vicinity to spot the hurricane flood risk.