Preps in Bahamas as Tropical Storm Nicole nears

Bahamians prepared on Tuesday for Tropical Storm Nicole, which is forecast to strengthen into a hurricane as it churns toward the northwestern Bahamas and Florida's Atlantic coastline.

Nicole is expected to cross the Bahamas later Tuesday and strengthen into a Category 1 hurricane before making landfall in Florida on Wednesday night or Thursday.

Many areas are still reeling from damage caused by Hurricane Ian, which struck in late September.

The hurricane center says Nicole's exact path remains uncertain.Hurricane warnings were in effect for the Abacos, Berry Islands, Bimini and Grand Bahama Island, the Miami-based National Hurricane Center said in an advisory.

Other areas of the Bahamas remained under a tropical storm warning.At 1 p.m. Tuesday, the storm was about 310 miles northeast of the northwestern Bahamas and 420 miles east of West Palm Beach, Florida.Tropical storm-force winds extend outward up to 380 miles from the center of the storm, the National Hurricane Center's advisory said.