Even thought Noel is not expected to move ashore in Florida, the storm is already affecting their weather. The combination of Noel interacting with a strong high pressure area (for October) off the Virginia Coast is causing strong winds across parts of the Sunshine state.
At 5 pm, Noel was still over Cuba and cntered near Latitude 21.0N, Longitude 78.0W or about 280 miles south of Nassau in the Bahamas. Highest sustained winds were 40 mph.
The latest NHC track forecast curves Noel more northward through the Western Bahamas and then gradually more toward the NE with the eventual landfall by Sunday in Nova Scotia. (of course, there can be large errors that far out)
The NWS in Melbourne warns of dangerous beach conditions and significant beach erosion on the Florida East Coast with NE winds to 35 mph and 6-foot breakers at the beach.
LATE AFTERNOON SPOT REPORTS FROM FLORIDA
Fort Meyers…wind east 20, gusts 30 mph
Naples…NE 22, gusts 31
Miami Beach…NE 40, gusts 47
Fowey Rocks…NE 36, gusts 40
Melbourne…light rain, NE 23, gusts 37
Buoy at 28.5N, 80.2W…ENE 42 with 15-foot waves
Long Key…NE 32, gusts 40
