Nicole is latest storm heading toward Southeast US. Here’s the forecast for Columbia
Subtropical Storm Nicole has formed in the Atlantic Ocean and is forecast to make landfall in the U.S., according to the National Hurricane Center.
While there is a lot of uncertainty about the storm’s track, it is currently expected to affect the Columbia area this week, National Weather Service meteorologist Nicole Rebarick told The State Monday.
Rain is expected to start Thursday, and could continue through Friday, according to Rebarick. There’s currently a 50% chance of showers in Thursday’s forecast for Columbia, rising to 60% on Friday.
As for how much rain falls, or other potential severe weather threats posed by Nicole, we have to wait and see.
“It depends on the storm’s track. A lot could change,” Rebarick said. “We don’t have confidence in specific rainfall total amounts, but it could be anywhere from a few tenths of an inch, to 2 inches, and localized amounts could be higher. But if the track changes, we might not see any rain at all.”
As of Monday no warnings, watches, or advisories were issued for the Columbia area by the National Weather Service. That could change as the storm moves closer.
The forecast is expected to become clearer in the next day or two as the storm moves closer to the U.S., and potentially South Carolina.
“Once we get closer to the event we’ll have a better idea where it’s going and what we can expect in the Midlands,” Rebarick said.
There’s greater certainty that Nicole will not be at tropical storm strength — meaning winds speeds will not reach 39 mph — should it hit the Midlands, according to Rebarick.
It’s not expected that the storm will produce tornadoes, but Rebarick said there is a low chance of them forming and becoming a threat.
Temperatures are forecast to drop into the 70s and 60s in the days leading up to the storm, the forecast shows. It will be the coldest on Wednesday morning when thermometers could dip to the low 40s, according to Rebarick.
But there isn’t expected to be any rain in the Midlands leading up to the storm.
“It will be very dry until Thursday,” Rebarick said.
Nicole is the 14th named storm of 2022 and could become the second to hit the Columbia area since the remnants of Hurricane Ian doused the Midlands at the beginning of October.
As of 2 p.m., the storm was moving northwest at 9 mph toward the Bahamas, and had maximum sustained winds of 45 mph, according to the National Hurricane Center.
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