Nicole made landfall as a hurricane on Florida’s east coast early Thursday, which has been battered by strong winds, heavy surf and rain since Wednesday morning. Waves battered vulnerable beaches already damaged by Hurricane Ian, causing some houses to collapse. (MORE: Nicole’s Latest Prediction) Mandatory evacuation orders were put in place in at least three counties, dozens of school districts and universities canceled classes, and airports and theme parks were closed.
(1:08 PM ET) Dam breach threatens homes in Port Orange
A levee broke in the city of Port Orange, Florida, potentially exposing several hundred homes to flooding, Fox 35 reports. Port Orange Mayor Don Burnette told the station that the seawall and levee at the north end of the Cambridge Channel drainage system have been breached. Higher than normal tides were pushing water into the area. Several hundred homes in the area were also flooded during Hurricane Ian.
(12:26 p.m. ET) More Daytona apartments evacuated
The Volusia County Sheriff’s Office has warned residents of the Tower Grande Condominums in Daytona Beach to evacuate. The sheriff’s office said that was due to hazardous conditions after the seawall collapsed there. Residents of neighboring buildings, Castaways Beach Resort and Opus Condominiums, were also told to leave, Fox 35 reported. The sheriff’s office also said all bridges to the beaches, except those to New Smyrna Beach, have been closed due to beach safety hazards.
(12 p.m. ET) Two deaths have been confirmed in Florida
Authorities in Orange County, Florida, said two people died after coming into contact with a downed power line early Thursday. They said the incident happened at Bayfront Parkway and Pershing Avenue. Deputies and firefighters arrived at the intersection about 9:30 a.m. and found a man dead, according to the Orlando Sentinel. He had come in contact with the power line after getting out of his car, an OCSO spokesman told the newspaper. A woman traveling with him was also electrocuted and later died at a hospital, the Sentinel reported.
(10:42 a.m. ET) Properties “Collapse into the Ocean”
Krista Goodrich is a property manager for beachfront cottages in Wilbur-By-The-Sea, where many of the homes have been damaged as the beach beneath them washes away. “Two of our three properties are collapsing into the ocean,” Goodrich told the Daytona Beach News-Journal. “FEMA is here. the National Guard is here. Sheriff Chitwood is here,” he said. “They’re knocking on doors, going door-to-door in Wilbur and making everybody leave because the ocean is basically creating sinkholes under these houses. According to Goodrich, Volusia County Sheriff Michael J. Chitwood said seven homes fell into the sea. “And they expect more,” he said. “It will change our landscape forever.” Goodrich told Live Storms Media that seawall damage and erosion caused by Hurricane Ian left the homes, some of which were built in the 1960s, vulnerable to Nicole’s storm surge. Waves from Nicole have caused severe beach erosion at Wilbur-By-The-Sea in Volusia County, Florida. Many houses have been severely damaged and some have reportedly collapsed. (Brandon Clement/LSM)
(9:58 a.m. ET) Impacts were felt along the South Carolina coast
Onshore wind causes flooding in Charleston, South Carolina. Several roads have been closed, according to the Police Department.
(9:54 a.m. ET) A1A is damaged in Flagler Beach
Flagler County Emergency Management shared photos of erosion damage at Flagler Beach. The post says there is significant damage on the A1A highway. Damage caused by Tropical Storm Nicole along Highway A1A in Flagler Beach, Florida, Thursday, Nov. 10, 2022. (Twitter/@FlaglerEOC)
(9:41 a.m. ET) St. River Flooding Johns again
The town of Welaka, Florida, in Putnam County is experiencing flooding from the St. Johns. Photos posted on the city’s Facebook page show nearly knee-deep water in the Sportsman Harbor neighborhood.
(9:32 a.m. ET) Disney announces parks will reopen today
Magic Kingdom will reopen at noon today. Epcot and Animal Kingdom will reopen at 1 p.m. and Hollywood Studios will open at 2 p.m., according to a news release from the parks. Transportation to the theme parks will begin 30 minutes prior to the park’s scheduled reopening time.
(9:16 a.m. ET) Nearly 320,000 are out of power
According to poweroutage.us, Nicole has knocked out power to nearly 320,00 homes and businesses in Florida.
(9:09 a.m. ET) The Pier Gone piece
A large section of the 900-foot Anglin’s Fishing Pier in Lauderdale-By-The-Sea has been washed away by Nicole. “Anglin’s Fishing Pier is such an iconic landmark in our town and to see it destroyed is heartbreaking. While the pier is privately owned, I know our city will do everything we can to support the property owner in the coming days and months,” Mayor Chris Vincent said in a tweet.
(8:46 a.m. ET) St. Augustine Floods
As during Hurricane Ian, the bay in St. Augustine has again flooded. The Bridge of Lions has been closed to all traffic except emergency vehicles, according to the St. Louis County EOC. Johns.
(8:36 a.m. ET) Corrosion damage 5 to 6 homes
About half a dozen homes appear to be about to fall into the ocean in Wilbur-By-The-Sea in Volusia County, Florida, according to WESH. Video by journalist Claire Metz showed several houses hanging over what was left of the sand dune. Another showed a house missing its entire rear. Another video from WFTV showed houses that had collapsed.
(7:54 a.m. ET) Did the Daytona Beach Shores Buildings Survive?
We are still awaiting word on the fate of several apartment buildings and hotels in Daytona Beach Shores that were left vulnerable to erosion from Hurricane Ian. On Wednesday, officials went door-to-door warning residents to evacuate buildings. “There is a real risk of a large structure collapsing in this area,” Daytona Beach Shores Public Safety Director Mike Fowler told The Weather Channel. “I’ve been here 30 years. This has never happened before… we have a real problem.” (WARNING: Jim Cantore is outside an apartment that looks like it could collapse at any moment) The area was under a mandatory evacuation order, but some had chosen to stay behind. Fowler said about 200 left after the knock on their door. Others were still there.
(7:28 a.m. ET) Over 230,000 lose power
According to poweroutage.us, Nicole has knocked out power to more than 234,000 homes and businesses in Florida. Most of these are located in Volusia, Brevard and Indian River counties on Florida’s east coast.
(7:18 a.m. ET) Skyway closes due to winds
The Sunshine Skyway Bridge over Tampa Bay has been closed because winds have reached 50 mph, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.
(4:00 a.m. ET) Nicole Now A Tropical Storm Again
Nicole has weakened back into a strong tropical storm just an hour after making landfall. More storm weakening is expected as Nicole moves farther inland, but storm surge impacts, strong winds, and heavy rainfall will continue from Florida to the East Coast to end the work week.
(3:50 a.m. ET) Wind gusts over 70 mph
Wind gusts of 70 mph or greater were reported this morning along Florida’s Atlantic coast. This includes 73 mph in Playalinda Beach, 71 mph in Cape Canaveral and 70 mph in Melbourne.
(3:00 a.m. ET) Nicole takes the plunge
Nicole made landfall at 3am. ET Thursday morning south of Vero Beach, Florida. Maximum sustained winds were 75 mph, making Nicole a Category 1 hurricane. You’ll find reports of Nicole’s impact from Wednesday here. Parts of houses are seen collapsing on the beach due to storm surge from Hurricane Nicole, Thursday, Nov. 10, 2022, in Wilbur-By-The-Sea, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux) The Weather Company’s primary journalistic mission is to report breaking news about weather, the environment and the importance of science in our lives. This story does not necessarily represent the position of our parent company, IBM.
