Hurricane Nicole closes in on southeastern US state of Florida

By Ahmet Gencturk

ANKARA (AA) – Tropical storm Nicole, now classified as a category one hurricane, is closing in on the east coast of the southeastern US state of Florida, local media reported on Thursday.

There is a chance of severe thunderstorms and tornadoes in some areas of the state, depending on the track the storm takes, according to local broadcaster ABC11.

Officials have ordered evacuations ahead of the storm making land, included former President Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago club in Palm Beach.

The hurricane is forecast to move to the north to the states of Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina, and dump heavy rain across the region.

In late September, Hurricane Ian, which President Joe Biden called the "deadliest" in the state’s history, hit Florida and killed over 100 people.