Florida buckles down for direct hit from rare November hurricane

Storm Nicole picks up strength after striking the Bahamas and is forecast to hit the state already devastated by Hurricane Ian

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Residents of Florida's east coast were bracing for a direct hit from a rare November hurricane that was forecast to land in the early hours of Thursday, with evacuations ordered in several vulnerable counties as Storm Nicole approached.

Areas of the state devastated by Hurricane Ian in September lay in the path of the cyclone that continued to pick up strength in the Atlantic on Wednesday after striking the Bahamas in the early afternoon with winds above 70mph.