Hurricane Nicole Path, Tracker as Tropical Storm Forecast to Strengthen

Florida residents are bracing for another hurricane as a storm heads toward the state still recovering from Hurricane Ian.

Forecasters said a subtropical storm, named Nicole, could reach hurricane strength by the time it gets to Florida's east coast in the middle of the week.

The National Hurricane Center said a "prolonged period of hazardous weather" is expected in Florida and the southeastern coast of the U.S. this week, as voters head to the polls in crucial midterm elections that will decide the balance of power in Congress.

"Nicole is forecast to be a large storm, and regardless of its exact path, widespread impacts from a prolonged period of coastal flooding, tropical-storm-force winds, heavy rainfall, rough surf and rip currents, and beach erosion are likely" along much of the southeastern U.S. coast, Florida's east coast, and parts of the Bahamas this week, the center said in an advisory early on Monday morning. An interactive map tracking the storm can be viewed here.

The storm "could be at or near hurricane strength" when it moves near the northwestern Bahamas and the east coast of Florida on Wednesday or Thursday, the center said.

A tropical storm watch is in effect for the northwestern Bahamas, according to the center, and additional watches could be required for parts of the Bahamas and the Florida coast later on Monday.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has urged residents to listen to orders from local officials and review disaster preparedness plans.

"I encourage all Floridians to be prepared and make a plan in the event a storm impacts Florida," he said in a statement on Sunday.

Florida Division of Emergency Management Director Kevin Guthrie added: "As the Division continues to support communities in their recovery from Hurricane Ian, we are now closely monitoring" the storm.

"It is critical for Floridians to review their disaster preparedness plans and follow all directions from local officials in anticipation of potential impacts."

This comes after Hurricane Ian, one of the most powerful storms to ever hit the U.S. mainland, wreaked havoc across Florida communities after making landfall near Fort Myers on September 28.

Hurricane Ian left more than 100 people dead and could become one of the most expensive natural disasters in U.S. history, with repairs in Florida alone estimated to cost as much $47 billion.

Last month, DeSantis issued an executive order extending early voting days in three counties where Ian destroyed polling places and displaced thousands of people.

The National Hurricane Center and DeSantis' office have been contacted for further comment.