NEWS: Tropical Storm Watch Issued for Disney World Counties

Subtropical Storm Nicole has formed in the Atlantic Ocean and is expected to hit Florida later this week.

©NOAA

Experts are keeping a close eye on the storm as they track its progress toward the U.S. Now, a tropical storm watch has been issued for Orange and Osceola Counties, which is where Disney World is located.

According to Wesh 2, tropical storm watches have been posted for several Central Florida counties, including Orange, Osceola, Seminole, Lake, Volusia, and Flager. Brevard County is currently under a hurricane watch.

©Wesh 2

UPDATE: Gov. Ron DeSantis has now declared a state of emergency for 34 Florida counties, including both Orange and Osceola counties. He said, “While this storm does not, at this time, appear that it will become much stronger, I urge all Floridians to be prepared and to listen to announcements from local emergency management officials. We will continue to monitor the trajectory and strength of this storm as it moves towards Florida” (Wesh 2).

Around 11AM EST, Nicole was about 495 miles east of the northwestern Bahamas and had “maximum sustained winds of 45 mph.” The storm is moving northeast and is expected to strengthen as it continues through the warm waters of the Bahamas.

©Wesh 2

Some experts are now predicting that Nicole will become a Category 1 hurricane by Wednesday evening, ahead of its arrival in South Florida. Some impacts of the storm (such as strong winds and rain) may arrive in Central Florida on Wednesday, but the full impact may not be felt until Thursday and Friday.

©Wesh 2

If you’re in one of the counties under a tropical storm watch, you can expect to see tropical storm conditions within 48 hours. Some ways you can prepare are to bring inside any outdoor furniture or decorations, keep an eye on the forecast and news, prepare to cover all the windows of your home, and stock up on batteries, canned food, first-aid supplies, drinking water, and medications.

Storm winds

Disney World theme parks shut down for Hurricane Ian earlier this year, and we could see the same happen if Subtropical Storm Nicole poses a significant threat to guest and employee safety. To learn more about what happens in Disney World during a hurricane, check out these links:

Stay tuned to AllEars for more updates on all the latest news that could impact your upcoming Disney World trip.