Tropical Storm Nicole is moving through west-central Florida on Thursday, with high winds, dangerous storm surge and heavy rain continuing to threaten residents.
The storm weakened after making landfall as a Category 1 hurricane along the eastern coast of the Sunshine State, just south of Vero Beach.
However, the dangers were far from over, with tornado watches issued by the National Weather Service for Florida and parts of Georgia.
The agency’s Melbourne office tweeted that storm surge warnings remained in effect and that there had been numerous reports from “all coastal counties” of coastal road erosion and flooding.
HURRICANE NICOLE IS DOWNGRADED TO A TROPICAL STORM AS IT BATHS FLORIDA WITH DANGEROUS WINDS AND STORM SURGE
In Tallahassee, the NWS said tropical storm warnings were in effect through Friday morning, with conditions expected to get worse before they get better.
This satellite image provided by NOAA shows Tropical Storm Nicole making landfall as a hurricane early Thursday, November 10, 2022, near Florida.
((NOAA via AP))
Major threats include strong to tropical storm force winds and gusts, storm surge and heavy rainfall.
Rainfall of 2 to 3 inches was forecast in the region, with isolated higher totals.
The office also warned residents about coastal erosion, deforestation and scattered power outages.
Waves crash ashore along the Jensen Beach Causeway as conditions deteriorate with the arrival of Hurricane Nicole, Wednesday, Nov. 9, 2022, in Jensen Beach, Florida.
((AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell))
More than 346,000 customers lost power in Florida on Thursday morning, according to tracker PowerOutage.US.
Fox 35 reported that a dozen condominiums and hotels were on the verge of collapsing into the ocean in Volusia County due to beach erosion.
TROPICAL STORM NICOLE: VIDEO SHOWS DAYTONA BEACH BUILDING PARTIALLY SUBMERGED AS WAVES MAKE ONLAND
Some Daytona Beach residents were urged to evacuate before Nicole made landfall.
People brave the rain and high winds to visit Jensen Beach Park as conditions deteriorate with the arrival of Hurricane Nicole, Wednesday, November 9, 2022, in Jensen Beach, Florida.
((AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell))
Of Florida’s 67 counties, 45 were under a state of emergency declaration.
President Biden also approved an emergency declaration for the Seminole Tribe of Florida.
The storm forced some theme parks and airports to close, and nearly two dozen school districts were closing schools.
Police patrol the Hollywood Beach Boardwalk as conditions deteriorate with the arrival of Hurricane Nicole, Wednesday, Nov. 9, 2022, at Hollywood Beach in Hollywood, Florida.
((AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee))
The NWS Water Center said that before Nicole weakens to a tropical depression over Georgia, heavy rains of up to 5 inches were expected in parts of the northern Florida panhandle, with flash and urban flooding possible.
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There is also a danger of storm surge through Friday for the coasts of Florida, Georgia and South Carolina.
Meanwhile, the southern and central Appalachians and the upper Ohio Valley are expected to be hit by heavy rain and flooding through Friday night.
Northern portions of the Northeast Mid-Atlantic could also see heavy rains leading to flooding through Saturday.
Associated Press contributed to this report.
