Black Panther: Wakanda Forever finally hits theaters Friday, but there were a few bumps in the road getting there.
One of those bumps involved Letitia Wright, who portrays Princess Shuri, the on-screen little sister of the late Chadwick Boseman‘s character T’Challa. Back in August 2021, she was hospitalized with a fractured shoulder, a concussion, as well as other injuries, Varietynotes.
Now, over a year later, Wright tells the outlet of the accident, “I’m still processing it.”
“I’m still working through it in therapy,” she continued. “It was really traumatic.”
Even while healing and in the hospital, Wright said, “I just remember wanting to finish my film, man. I think that was one of the first things I said to [director Ryan Coogler]. And he was like, ‘Tish, you need to recover.”
After four and half months the actress returned to set.
“I had great, great, great medical support, great patience on set,” she shared. “I’m just extremely proud of myself. I’m extremely proud of Ryan, of the team, for just the resilience — overcoming adversities every step of the way.” She adds, “When I finished filming, I cried like a little baby.”
Roc Nation Records/Def Jam Recordings/Hollywood Records
“Lift Me Up” is reportedly one of two Rihanna songs on the Black Panther: Wakanda Forever soundtrack. According to chart data, the second single is titled “Born Again” and is said to be coming out at midnight Thursday.
Lyrics to the Rih song are already featured on Genius.com. Twitter accounts have also seemed to confirm the reports. One page claimed that fans from different time zones reported the song was added to the soundtrack in countries where it’s already November 11. Others mentioned that the song is featured in the end credits of the film.
If the reports are true, “Born Again” will be Rihanna’s second single following her long-awaited return to music. Does this — and her upcoming Super Bowl halftime performance — mean there’s an album on the way? Unfortunately not. When discussing whether a new album would follow the NFL show, she said, “That’s not true. Super Bowl is one thing. New music is another thing. Do you hear that, fans?”
The Arcs have released new song “Heaven Is a Place,” a tribute to their late bandmate Richard Swift.
The poignant track’s lyrics touch on loss: “Heaven is a place I know, where all the lovers go / and when they die / everything they had on Earth is multiplied.”
The song will be included on the band’s upcoming album, Electrophonic Chronic, most of which was recorded before Swift’s 2018 passing. The album is due out January 27.
“This new record is all about honoring Swift,” frontman Dan Auerbach says in a statement. “It’s a way for us to say goodbye to him.”
Electrophonic Chronic will arrive eight years after The Arcs’ 2015 debut album, Yours, Dreamily.
On Thursday, Lionsgate dropped the trailer to the fourth chapter of its hit John Wick franchise. Once again, Keanu Reeves is back as the man in black; he’s still on the run after the events of Chapter 3, when his ally Winston, played by Ian McShane, shot him off a roof to regain control of The Continental hotel.
Evidently all is forgiven, as Winston offers Wick a chance to get the High Table’s target off his back: “The Marquis de Gramont: Challenge him to single combat. Win or lose, it’s a way out.”
It’s Bill Skarsgård as the Marquis who later tells Wick, “If you win, The Table will honor its word: You will have your freedom.”
While Wick awaits his sunrise pistol duel to the death, he dispatches all manner of baddies all over the world — this as the widower apparently gets ready to be remarried. “A man has to look his best when it’s time to get married. Or buried,” Laurence Fishburne‘s Bowery King instructs him, offering a sharp — and likely bulletproof — new suit.
The movie also stars Avengers: Endgame‘s Hiroyuki Sanada, Rina Sawayama, and martial arts legend and Rogue One star Donnie Yen.
Sanada‘s Shimazu tells Wick, “I want you to have peace. But a good death only comes after a good life,” to which Baba Yaga replies, “You and I left ‘a good life’ behind a long time ago, my friend.”
John Wick: Chapter 4 debuts in theaters and IMAX March 24, 2023.
The Lion King will celebrate 25 years on Broadway this weekend, one of only three shows ever to hit that milestone. At a private event, Elton John — who wrote the music for the film that inspired the musical — celebrated the “extraordinary” milestone with a special performance.
While onstage at the event, Elton said, “For a show to have run this long is very rare and it’s extraordinary. It was one of the greatest things to happen in my life in 1993 when Sir Tim Rice rang me up and said, ‘Disney don’t think you want to do this, but will you do The Lion King?’ And I went, ‘Are you kidding me?'”
“It changed my whole life,” Elton added. “Because it’s such a magical show, brilliantly put on the stage by Julie Taymor. Every time you go and see it, you just get goosebumps. It’s extraordinary, and I’m so proud to be a part of it.”
He then performed his 1994 top-five hit “Can You Feel the Love Tonight” from the film, which won him the Oscar for Best Original Song, as well as the Grammy for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance.
The Lion King musical opened on Broadway November 13, 1997. It earned six Tony Awards, including one for director Taymor — the first woman ever to win the Tony for Best Director of a Musical.
Over the years, The Lion King as grossed more than $1 billion, making it the highest-grossing Broadway production of all time. Its various productions have been seen by more than 100 million people worldwide.
Carly Pearce’s 29: Written in Stone chronicles her journey through heartbreak and a very public divorce from fellow artist Michael Ray.
Now, on the other side of that heartbreak — and with a new man in her life — Carly says that she’s open to the possibility of getting married at some point in the future.
“Yes. For sure,” Carly told Access Hollywood on the carpet of the 2022 CMA Awards last night, when asked if she’d consider saying “I do” again someday. “Maybe not, like, now. But I would. It’s on the table.”
In the meantime, the singer celebrated her powerful female friendships at Wednesday night’s awards show, taking home the Musical Event of the Year trophy for her collaboration with Ashley McBryde, “Never Wanted to Be That Girl.”
She also hopped onstage for a performance of the Kelsea Ballerini-led collaboration “You’re Drunk, Go Home,” along with Kelly Clarkson. It was an uptempo, honky tonking, girl power moment at the ceremony, with an extra layer of meaning due to the fact that all three women have now gone through highly public divorces.
“We’ve all had very different experiences over the last few years and I think we’ve all handled it really well,” Carly noted. “I’m proud of us. And I think there’s just an extra strength that comes from within when you go through struggle, and also when you’re looking these women in the eyes that you walked it with…and you just go, ‘God, we got this.’”
(NEW YORK) — Two quick-thinking Kansas City, Missouri, police officers are being hailed as heroes after they sprang into action and saved a newborn baby’s life.
Officers Richard DuChaine and Charles Owen responded to a call Thursday about a baby who was not breathing, according to Kansas City police.
DuChaine immediately began chest compressions and then back thrusts on the small baby girl. By the time EMS providers arrived, Kamiya was breathing again.
“We always had that fear in the back of our head that, ‘Is what we’re doing enough? Is it going to be enough to bring her back?'” DuChaine told ABC News’ Good Morning America. “Obviously, once we are able to bring her back, that was a huge sigh of relief.”
Kamiya was rushed to the hospital where her mother said she was diagnosed with respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV, an illness that is surging to record levels among children across the country.
Each year in the United States, an estimated 58,000 to 80,000 children younger than 5 years old are hospitalized due to RSV infection, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Most children recover in a week or two, but RSV can be serious, especially for infants and the elderly.
The baby’s mother, Tajanea Allen, said Kamiya is back home and that the two men are her heroes.
“He’s a hero, he’s my hero. He’s my daughter’s hero. He’s a hero, like I would do anything for the man,” said Allen. “The man is a hero, he saved my daughter.”
DuChaine and Owen said they were just fulfilling their duty.
“We don’t feel like heroes. We just feel like we did something good,” said Owen.
DuChaine added, “We don’t do this job to be called heroes. We do this job to preserve life and … just overall, just protecting the people of the city.”
This year’s list of Grammy nominees comes out in less than a week, and big stars like Olivia Rodrigo and John Legend have been tapped to make the grand reveal.
Nominees for all 91 categories for the 65th Grammy Awards will be announced Tuesday, November 15, starting at 12 p.m. ET. Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason Jr. has tasked Olivia, John, Smokey Robinson, “Despacito” singer Luis Fonsi, “my ex’s best friend” singer Machine Gun Kelly and country singer Jimmie Allen to assist in the ceremony.
TV hosts Gayle King and Nate Burleson,as well as Recording Academy Los Angeles Chapter President Ledisi,will also be on hand.
It is unknown at this time what categories have been assigned to each presenter.
We’ll find out who is up for a Grammy Award next Tuesday, November 15, when the event streams live on the official Grammy website, as well as its social media accounts, starting at 12 p.m. ET.
The 65th annual Grammy Awards will be held Sunday, February 5, at 8 p.m. ET on CBS and Paramount+.
(WASHINGTON) — President Joe Biden is set to meet with China’s President Xi Jinping on Monday while the two are in Bali, Indonesia, for the annual summit of leaders from the “Group of 20” industrialized nations. This will be the first time the two have had a face-to-face meeting since Biden took office.
“The Leaders will discuss efforts to maintain and deepen lines of communication between the United States and the PRC, responsibly manage competition, and work together where our interests align, especially on transnational challenges that affect the international community. The two Leaders will also discuss a range of regional and global issues,” White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said in a statement Thursday.
Biden is set to depart Thursday for a three-country tour to Egypt, Cambodia and Indonesia as he pivots to foreign policy following his party’s surprising electoral successes.
The president plans to make a quick stop in Egypt for the annual United Nations global climate summit, followed by a longer visit to Cambodia for a pair of conferences with southeast Asian nations.
He’s then scheduled to fly to Indonesia, for the G-20 summit, where he will meet with President Xi Jinping.
Here’s a look at what to watch for as Biden heads abroad:
High-stakes meeting with China’s president
Biden often speaks of his long relationship with Xi and as president has spoken with Xi five times — but never in person.
Both leaders have emphasized the importance of managing their countries’ strategic relationship — amid China’s global rise. The Biden administration recently labeled China “the only competitor with both the intent and, increasingly, the capability to reshape the international order.”
For its part, China has called on the U.S. to stop trying to contain its rise. It has also taken issue with American tariffs on Chinese imports and on U.S. lawmakers’ support for the self-governing island of Taiwan, which Beijing considers part of China.
The two leaders could likely discuss the war in Ukraine.
China has toed the line with Russia, aligning itself with Moscow but declining to provide military assistance for its invasion. It has not, however, joined widespread sanctions on Russia.
“What I want to do with him, when we talk,” Biden told reporters Wednesday, “is lay out what the – what kind – what each of our red lines are, understand what he believes to be in the critical national interest of China, what I know to be the critical interest of the United States, and determine whether or not they conflict with one another. And if they do, how do we resolve it and how to work it out.”
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine will take center stage
Biden said Wednesday he did not expect Putin to attend the G20; the White House had said previously that Biden did not intend to meet with him even if he did go. The two leaders have not spoken since Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine in February.
Biden had last month left the door open a crack for a potential meeting if, he said in an interview, Putin wanted to discuss WNBA star Brittney Griner, an American who has been detained for months in Russia.
“I mean, it would depend,” Biden said.
Tensions between Russia and the West remain extremely high, with unprecedented sanctions on Moscow and Putin becoming a global pariah as he continues to wage war.
Ukraine will take center stage, with Europe heading into winter with limited natural gas from Russia and spiking energy costs. The war has put pressure on economies across the world, and Biden will look to maintain a solid front against Putin.
Limited progress on climate change
Before heading to Asia, Biden will stop in Sharm-el-Sheikh, Egypt, to address the United Nations’ global climate summit, known as COP27.
After playing a prominent role at last year’s gathering in Scotland, Biden is heading to Egypt with an historic legislative win in hand: his Inflation Reduction Act, which contained $369 billion in investments in climate and clean energy programs.
But the UN has said the world is far off track from the global goal of limiting warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius, and countries are expected to focus on how to make up that gap. A report released Tuesday from a coalition of local leaders and private businesses found Biden’s law, combined with state and local action, could meet the president’s goal to reduce U.S. emissions by 50% to 52% by 2030, as long as current policy trends continue.
The poorest nations are facing the worst impacts of climate change and many want financial compensation. The United States, though, is not yet on board with new funding.
Politics likely won’t stop at the water’s edge
With Biden hitting the road so soon after his party’s surprising midterm performance, he’ll have to keep an eye on developments back in Washington — and how they could impact U.S. foreign policy.
Some Republicans, who may be on the verge of taking control of the House of Representatives, have decried the billions of dollars of military and financial aid that the U.S. has provided Ukraine. Biden said Wednesday he did not think America’s bipartisan support for Ukraine would erode.
Other world leaders, too, will likely try to understand what impact the vote in America may have on their countries.
American officials may face questions from their foreign counterparts, not to mention reporters, trying to make sense of what’s next for U.S. foreign policy.
Is America back?
A hallmark of Biden’s foreign policy has been his re-engagement with the world and traditional U.S. partners after four years of the Trump administration’s isolationism.
His attendance at UN climate conferences, and his attendance at two major regional conferences in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, reflect his endorsement of international institutions and multilateralism for addressing global challenges.
The president plans to attend a summit with members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, or ASEAN, and another with East Asian nations. While no major announcements are expected, his presence will be symbolic following the turbulent years under President Donald Trump.
But even with Biden at the helm, many nations will continue to question whether “America is back” on the world stage — as Biden proclaimed last year — or if the pendulum has merely swung back toward the rest of the world temporarily.
(NEW YORK) — Hurricane Nicole made landfall along Florida’s east coast early Thursday as a Category 1 storm.
At least 45 of Florida’s 67 counties are under a state of emergency due to Nicole.
Nicole formed as a subtropical storm in the southwestern Atlantic Ocean on Monday, becoming the 14th named storm of the 2022 Atlantic hurricane season, which ends later this month.
Here’s how the news is developing. All times Eastern:
Nov 10, 10:57 AM EST
Beach erosion in four counties, Saint Johns River at major flood stage
Florida’s Brevard, Volusia, Flagler and Saint Johns counties, which had already seen beach erosion from September’s Hurricane Ian, are now seeing major beach erosion from Nicole, Gov. Ron DeSantis said Thursday.
DeSantis and Florida Emergency Management Director Kevin Guthrie warned that the flooding along the Saint Johns River is at major flood stage and could continue to get worse.
DeSantis said 17,000 linemen are standing by to repair the downed power lines and 250 Department of Transportation crews are ready to clear roads and inspect bridges once it’s safe to do so.
Nov 10, 10:05 AM EST
100 mph winds batter NASA’s Artemis moon rocket
NASA’s new moon rocket reportedly experienced 100 mph winds at Cape Canaveral, Florida, on Wednesday night, as Tropical Storm Nicole took aim at the Sunshine State.
Despite the incoming storm, NASA announced in a statement on Monday evening that its Space Launch System (SLS) rocket would remain on launchpad 39B at the Kennedy Space Center, citing “current forecast data.” In another statement on Tuesday evening, NASA said that the $4.1 billion test flight — the opening shot in the space agency’s Artemis moon-exploration program — “is designed to withstand” 85 mph winds.
“Current forecasts predict the greatest risks at the pad are high winds that are not expected to exceed the SLS design,” the agency added. “The rocket is designed to withstand heavy rains at the launch pad and the spacecraft hatches have been secured to prevent water intrusion.”
NASA had been aiming for a third launch attempt on Nov. 14 but is now looking at Nov. 16, “pending safe conditions for employees to return to work, as well as inspections after the storm has passed,” the agency said.
Nov 10, 9:46 AM EST
Almost 330,000 without power in Florida due to Nicole
Nearly 330,000 customers were without power across Florida on Thursday morning due to Tropical Storm Nicole, according to data collected by PowerOutage.us.
As of 9:34 a.m. ET, a total of 329,965 customers did not have power.
Nov 10, 9:42 AM EST
Tornado threat for Florida, Georgia, Carolinas
A “few” tornadoes are possible over parts of coastal east-central and northeastern Florida on Thursday morning, according to the National Weather Service.
The tornado threat will spread northward across parts of southeastern Georgia and the Carolinas later Thursday through Friday morning.
Meanwhile, “large” swell waves generated by Nicole will affect the northwestern Bahamas, the east coast of Florida and much of the southeastern U.S. coast during the next few days.
“These swells are likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions,” the National Weather Service said in a public advisory on Thursday morning.
Nov 10, 9:38 AM EST
Nicole to bring ‘dangerous’ storm surge, ‘heavy’ rain
A “dangerous” storm surge from Tropical Storm Nicole combined with the tide will cause normally dry areas near the coast to be flooded by rising waters moving inland from the shoreline, according to the National Weather Service.
If the peak occurs at the time of high tide, the National Weather Service said, the water could reach up to 5 feet above ground from Florida’s Jupiter Inlet to Georgia’s Altamaha Sound, from Florida’s St. Johns River to the Fuller Warren Bridge, and from Anclote River to Ochlockonee River in Florida.
“The deepest water will occur along the immediate coast near and to the north of the landfall location, where the surge will be accompanied by large and destructive waves,” the National Weather Service warned in a public advisory on Thursday morning.
Through Saturday, Nicole is expected to produce 3 to 5 inches of rainfall from the northwestern Bahamas into portions of the Florida Peninsula, with a maximum of 8 inches of localized rain. The southeastern United States into the central Appalachian Mountains and eastern portions of Tennessee, Kentucky and Ohio could see 2 to 4 inches of rainfall, with a maximum of 6 inches of localized rain along the Blue Ridge Mountains. The northern Mid-Atlantic region into New England could get 1 to 4 inches of rainfall.
“Flash and urban flooding will be possible, along with renewed river rises on the St. Johns River, across the Florida Peninsula today,” the National Weather Service added. “Heavy rainfall from this system will spread northward across portions of the Southeast, upper Ohio Valley, Mid-Atlantic, and New England today through Saturday, where limited flooding impacts will be possible.”
Nov 10, 9:28 AM EST
Latest forecast as Nicole moves across central Florida
The center of Tropical Storm Nicole is expected to move across central Florida on Thursday morning, possibly emerging over the far northeastern Gulf of Mexico on Thursday afternoon, then move across the Florida Panhandle and Georgia on Thursday night and Friday, according to the latest forecast from the National Weather Service.
Although “additional weakening” is in the forecast, the National Weather Service warned on Thursday morning that “Nicole remains a large tropical storm” and “strong wind, dangerous storm surge and waves, and heavy rains continue over a large area.” Tropical storm-force winds extend outward up to 450 miles from Nicole’s center, especially to the north. Sustained winds of 49 mph with a gust of 70 mph were reported early Thursday in Daytona Beach, Florida.
According to the National Weather Service, tropical storm conditions will continue along portions of the eastern coastlines of Florida, Georgia and South Carolina in the warning areas on Thursday. Tropical storm conditions are expected to occur within the warning area along Florida’s west coast through Thursday night.
Nov 10, 7:40 AM EST
215,000 without power in Florida due to Nicole
More than 215,000 customers were without power across Florida on Thursday morning due to Tropical Storm Nicole, according to data collected by PowerOutage.us.
As of 7:04 a.m. ET, a total of 215,443 customers did not have power.
Nov 10, 6:56 AM EST
175,000 without power in Florida as Nicole moves inland
More than 175,000 customers were without power across Florida early Thursday morning, as Tropical Storm Nicole moved inland over the Sunshine State, according to data collected by PowerOutage.us.
As of 6:23 a.m. ET, a total of 177,423 customers did not have power.
Nov 10, 6:50 AM EST
Tornado watch issued for parts of Florida, Georgia
The National Weather Service issued a tornado watch for northeastern Florida and southeastern Georgia on Thursday morning, in effect until 1 p.m. local time.
Brief spin-up tornadoes are common in tropical storm systems, so more watches could be issued throughout the day.
Nov 10, 5:35 AM EST
100,000 without power in Florida after Nicole’s landfall
More than 100,000 customers were without power across Florida early Thursday, shortly after Nicole made landfall as a Category 1 hurricane, according to data collected by PowerOutage.us.
Nov 10, 4:17 AM EST
Nicole weakens back into a tropical storm
Nicole weakened back into a tropical storm shortly after making landfall as a Category 1 hurricane along Florida’s east coast early Thursday, according to the National Weather Service.
The storm currently has maximum sustained winds of 70 miles per hour, as it moves inland across the Sunshine State. To be classified as a hurricane, a tropical cyclone must have maximum sustained winds of at least 74 mph.
Nevertheless, the National Weather Service warned that “strong winds, dangerous storm surge and waves, and heavy rains continue over a large area.”
A hurricane warning from Boca Raton to the Flagler-Volusia County line in eastern Florida has been changed to a tropical storm warning. A tropical storm warning south of Boca Raton to Hallandale Beach, Florida, has also been discontinued, along with a hurricane watch for Florida’s Lake Okeechobee.
A storm surge warning from North Palm Beach to Jupiter Inlet in eastern Florida has been discontinued. A storm surge watch south of North Palm Beach to Hallandale Beach, Florida, has also been discontinued.
All warnings have been discontinued for the northwestern Bahamas, according to the National Weather Service.
Nov 10, 3:22 AM EST
Nicole makes landfall as Category 1 hurricane in Florida
Nicole made landfall along Florida’s east coast on North Hutchinson Island, just south of Vero Beach, at 3 a.m. local time on Thursday as a Category 1 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 75 miles per hour, according to the National Weather Service.
It’s the second-latest hurricane landfall on record in the United States.
Nov 10, 1:58 AM EST
38,000 without power in Florida ahead of Nicole’s landfall
More than 38,000 customers in Florida were without power early Thursday, ahead of Hurricane Nicole’s landfall, according to data collected by PowerOutage.us.
Nov 08, 10:11 PM EST
Latest forecast as Nicole approaches Florida
Hurricane Nicole is approaching Florida as a large Category 1 storm with maximum sustained winds of 75 miles per hour, according to the National Weather Service.
The latest forecast shows Nicole touching down along Florida’s east coast after midnight but before sunrise, with one model estimating landfall between Cocoa Beach and Fort Pierce at 4 a.m. local time, although projections can change.
Hurricane warnings have been issued from West Palm Beach north to Daytona Beach, with tropical storm warnings extending inland from Miami through Tallahassee, and even extending into parts of southern Georgia and coastal South Carolina.
Nov 09, 6:15 PM EST
Nicole strengthens into hurricane
Nicole has strengthened into a hurricane while making landfall on Grand Bahama Island, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The storm has estimated maximum wind speeds of 75 mph.
Nov 09, 1:21 PM EST
Latest forecast
Nicole may strengthen into a Category 1 hurricane before making landfall overnight near Fort Pierce. Over the next 24 hours, the biggest threats for Florida will be damaging beach erosion, storm surge up to 5 feet, isolated tornadoes and wind gusts around 70 mph.
Hurricane warnings are in effect from West Palm Beach to Daytona Beach. Tropical storm warnings are in effect for much of Florida and extend up to coastal Georgia and South Carolina.
After landfall, Nicole will quickly weaken as it moves across central Florida and the Panhandle, but it’ll bring rain, powerful winds and storm surge.
Three feet to 5 feet of storm surge is expected from West Palm Beach to Jacksonville while Florida’s Big Bend area could see 2 to 4 feet of storm surge.
The heaviest rain — 8 inches — will hit central Florida. Flash flooding is also possible.
As Nicole moves north, the heavy rain will stretch into the Mid-Atlantic and New England. Pennsylvania to Vermont could see 2 to 4 inches of rain. Philadelphia, New York City and Boston could see 2 inches of rain and gusty winds.
-ABC News’ Melissa Griffin
Nov 09, 12:01 PM EST
Nicole makes landfall in Bahamas
Tropical Storm Nicole has made landfall on Great Abaco Island in the Bahamas.
Nov 09, 11:47 AM EST
Disney World parks to close
Disney World parks will close early Wednesday evening and will remain closed through Thursday morning due to the storm.
Nov 09, 11:18 AM EST
Nicole could make landfall twice
Once Nicole makes landfall early Thursday in Martin County as a Category 1 hurricane, the storm is expected to cross the state of Florida, hit the Gulf of Mexico and possibly make landfall again along Florida’s Big Bend, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis warned.
The major concerns for Nicole are winds, flooding, beach erosion and possible tornadoes, DeSantis said.
He said 15 shelters are open for those urged to evacuate.
The governor said 16,000 linemen have been staged to immediately work on restoring power as soon as the storm passes.
Nov 09, 10:52 AM EST
Florida counties announce evacuation orders
Several of Florida’s 67 counties have announced evacuation orders in anticipation of Tropical Storm Nicole’s arrival.
Flagler County: Evacuation orders go into effect Wednesday at 3:30 p.m. local time for residents and visitors in Zone A, the barrier island from Flagler Beach to Marineland, as well as mobile homes and RVs countywide, according to the Flagler County Emergency Management.
Volusia County: Mandatory evacuations went into effect Wednesday at 10 a.m. local time for residents and visitors east of the Intercostal Waterway, all mobile homes east of Interstate 95, all low-lying areas and other areas prone to flooding as well as all campsites and RV recreational parks, according to the Volusia County Emergency Management.
Palm Beach County: Mandatory evacuations went into effect Tuesday at 7 a.m. local time for Zones A and B, including mobile homes, barrier islands and low-lying areas, according to Palm Beach Mayor Robert Weinroth.
Nov 09, 9:55 AM EST
Nicole close to hurricane strength as it heads for Florida
Tropical Storm Nicole barrelled toward the northwestern Bahamas and eastern Florida on Wednesday morning, with maximum sustained winds near 70 miles per hour — almost as a strong as a hurricane, according to the latest forecast from the National Weather Service.
To be classified as a hurricane, a tropical cyclone must have maximum sustained winds of at least 74 mph.
The center of Nicole is forecast to approach the northwestern Bahamas on Wednesday morning, move near or over those islands by midday, then approach the east coast of Florida within the hurricane warning area on Wednesday night. The storm’s center is expected to move across central and northern Florida into southern Georgia on Thursday, then across the Carolinas on Friday.
“Some strengthening is expected today, and Nicole is forecast to become a hurricane near the northwestern Bahamas and remain a hurricane when it reaches the east coast of Florida tonight,” the National Weather Service said in a public advisory on Wednesday morning. “Nicole is expected to weaken while moving across Florida and the southeastern United States Thursday through Friday, and it is likely to become a post-tropical cyclone by Friday night over the Mid-Atlantic states.”
As of early Wednesday, Nicole was already spreading gusty winds and rain showers into Florida, where it is later expected to make landfall between the southeastern cities of West Palm Beach and Melbourne as either a tropical storm or a Category 1 hurricane. Its tropical storm-force winds currently extend outward up to 460 miles, especially to the north of the center. In the early morning hours, a National Ocean Service station at the Lake Worth Pier, just south of West Palm Beach, reported sustained winds of 44 mph and a wind gust of 55 mph, according to the National Weather Service.
Because Nicole is so close to hurricane strength, the National Weather Service has issued hurricane and storm surge warnings along Florida’s east coast from Daytona Beach to West Palm Beach. Meanwhile, Miami is under a tropical storm watch and tropical storm warnings have been issued for Florida’s west coast as well as from Jacksonville up through Savannah, Georgia, to Charleston, South Carolina.
Storm surge will be the highest on the eastern coastlines of Florida and Georgia, from the border down to West Palm Beach, where water could rise as much as 5 feet above normal tide levels. Some storm surge is also possible on Florida’s west coast from Sarasota to Tampa, where water could rise as much as 3 feet and up to 4 feet in the Big Bend area and Apalachicola. Storm surge will be felt all the way to Charleston, South Carolina, where water could rise up to 4 feet.
The areas that will see the heaviest rainfall will be right where the storm touches down on Florida’s east coast, with the potential for up to 8 inches of localized rain. Heavy rain will track north and inland, into Georgia, the Appalachian Mountains from Tennessee and North Carolina to Pennsylvania and into western New York where more than 4 inches of rain is possible.
Nov 09, 5:04 AM EST
Biden approves Florida emergency declaration
President Joe Biden on Tuesday night approved an emergency declaration for Florida due to conditions resulting from Tropical Storm Nicole, according to the White House.
In anticipation of the storm’s arrival, Biden ordered federal assistance to supplement state and local response efforts, the White House said.
The emergency declaration authorizes the Federal Emergency Management Agency to coordinate all disaster relief efforts. Specifically, FEMA is authorized to identify, mobilize and provide at its discretion equipment and resources necessary to alleviate the impacts of the emergency, according to the White House.
