Tropical Storm — Coastal Citrus, Florida

2022-11-10 · Coastal Citrus, Florida

Event narrative

In Citrus County, maximum winds were estimated between 40 and 50 mph in gusts. Rainfall ranged from 2 to 4 inches, with a maximum total of 3.61 inches north of Hernando. Peak water levels around one foot above normal were reported near Crystal River around 3 AM EST on November 11. A limited number of customers experienced power outages. Minor damage was reported to homes with a tree reported down on one home.

Wider weather episode

Hurricane Nicole initially formed as a subtropical storm in the western Atlantic on November 7 between Bermuda and the Bahamas before becoming fully tropical on November 8. Tropical Storm Nicole then moved generally westward over the next few days, with the center moving through the Bahamas on November 9 and strengthened to a hurricane that evening, before ultimately making landfall on North Hutchinson Island just south of Vero Beach, Florida at 0800 UTC (3:00 AM EST) on November 10, with maximum sustained winds of 75 mph and a minimum pressure of 981 mb. Nicole quickly weakened to a tropical storm while moving west-northwest across the central Florida peninsula during the early morning into the afternoon hours, briefly partially emerged over the extreme northeast Gulf of Mexico north of Tampa during the afternoon, then straddled along the coast across Cedar Key before moving inland across the Florida Big Bend and weakening to a tropical depression during the evening the 10th.

County-by-County Impacts

Levy County - The highest wind reported in Levy County was a gust to 42 mph at Cedar Key at 9:54 AM EST on November 10. Rainfall ranged from 2 to 4 inches, with a maximum total of 2.57 inches northwest of Chiefland. A peak reported water level of 1.93 feet above MHHW was reported at Cedar Key at 1:18 AM EST on November 11. Offshore winds preceding Nicole's passage resulted in water levels 1 to 2 feet below normal prior to the peak water level after winds shifted onshore.

Citrus County - In Citrus County, maximum winds were estimated between 40 and 50 mph in gusts. Rainfall ranged from 2 to 4 inches, with a maximum total of 3.61 inches north of Hernando. Peak water levels around one foot above normal were reported near Crystal River around 3 AM EST on November 11. A limited number of customers experienced power outages. Minor damage was reported to homes with a tree reported down on one home.

Sumter County - In Sumter County, maximum winds were estimated between 40 and 50 mph in gusts. Rainfall generally ranged from 2 to 4 inches, with a maximum total of 2.94 inches reported southwest of Oxford. Approximately 1,000 customers experienced power outages. Minor damage was reported to homes although significant damage was reported to one home from trees and tree limbs.

Hernando County - The highest wind reported in Hernando County was a gust to 52 mph at Brooksville-Tampa Bay Regional Airport at 8:16 AM EST on November 10. Rainfall ranged from 2 to 4 inches, with a maximum total of 3.5 inches southeast of Brooksville.

Pasco County - The highest wind reported in Pasco County was a gust to 45 mph at Zephyrhills Municipal Airport at 6:55 AM EST on November 10. Rainfall ranged from 3 to 6 inches, with an event-maximum total of 6.11 inches reported near Dade City.

Pinellas County - The highest wind reported in Pinellas County from Hurricane Nicole was a gust to 62 mph at the Clearwater-Saint Petersburg International Airport at 7:36 AM EST on November 10. Rainfall generally ranged from 2 to 5 inches with a maximum of 5.13 inches reported northwest of Saint Petersburg. Water levels generally peaked 1 to 2 feet above normal, and a peak water level of 1.75 feet above MHHW was reported at Old Port Tampa at 10:58 PM EST on November 10. Approximately 17,000 customers experienced power outages.

Hillsborough County - The highest wind reported in Hillsborough County from Hurricane Nicole was a gust to 54 mph at Tampa International Airport at 7:21 AM EST on November 10. Rainfall generally ranged from 2 to 5 inches with a maximum of 5.12 inches reported northeast of Thonotosassa. A peak reported water level of 1.94 feet above MHHW was reported at East Bay at 1:54 AM EST on November 11.

Polk County - The highest wind reported in Polk County was a gust to 54 mph at Winter Haven Regional Airport at 5:32 AM EST on November 10. Rainfall generally ranged from 2 to 5 inches with a maximum of 5.13 inches reported near Davenport.

Manatee County - The highest wind reported in Sarasota County from Hurricane Nicole was a gust to 54 mph at the Sarasota Bradenton international airport at 7:41 AM EST on November 10. Rainfall generally ranged from 2 to 5 inches with a maximum of 4.6 inches reported northeast of Palmetto. A peak water level of 1.72 feet above MHHW was reported at Port Manatee at 1:06 AM EST on November 11.

Sarasota County - The highest wind reported in Sarasota County from Hurricane Nicole was a gust to 54 mph at Sarasota Bradenton International Airport at 7:41 AM EST on November 10. Rainfall generally ranged from 2 to 4 inches with a maximum of 3.86 inches reported northeast of North Port.

DeSoto County - In DeSoto County, maximum winds were estimated between 30 and 40 mph in gusts. Rainfall generally ranged from 1 to 3 inches with a maximum of 2.18 inches reported just west of Lake Suzy.

Hardee County - In Hardee County, maximum winds were estimated between 30 and 40 mph in gusts. Rainfall estimates generally ranged from 1 to 3 inches. Approximately 100 customers experienced power outages.

Highlands County - The highest wind reported in Highlands County was a gust to 43 mph at Sebring Regional Airport at 7:55 AM EST on November 10. Rainfall generally ranged from 1 to 3 inches with a maximum of 2.98 inches reported near Lake Wales. Approximately 500 customers experienced power outages. Minimal damage was reported.

Charlotte County - The highest wind reported in Charlotte County from Hurricane Nicole was a gust to 37 mph at Punta Gorda at 11:53 AM EST on November 9. Rainfall generally ranged from 1 to 3 inches with a maximum of 2.44 inches reported near Punta Gorda.

Lee County - The highest wind reported in Lee County from Hurricane Nicole was a gust to 37 mph at Page Field Airport at 6:02 PM EST on November 9. Rainfall generally ranged from 1 to 3 inches with a maximum of 2.98 inches reported southwest of Lehigh Acres.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1060327. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.