Nicole updates: Tornado watch lifted for Wilmington area as skies begin to clear

Renee Spencer, Wilmington StarNews
·2 min read
Around 12:30 p.m., the center of Nicole was moving into the western Carolinas. It is expected to continue moving northeast throughout the day.
Around 12:30 p.m., the center of Nicole was moving into the western Carolinas. It is expected to continue moving northeast throughout the day.

2 p.m. Friday

The sun appears to be breaking through the clouds, and most of the showers and storms have moved out of the Cape Fear region.

Scattered showers and thunderstorms remain possible throughout the afternoon, but the tornado watch for the area has expired. The National Hurricane Center issued its last public advisory on Tropical Depression Nicole at 10 a.m. Beginning at 4 p.m., public advisories on the remnants of Nicole will be issued by the Weather Prediction Center, which can be found at www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov.

On Friday, temperatures have been in the upper 70s and lower 80s across the Cape Fear region, but cooler weather will develop when a cold front sweeps through the area Sunday with partly cloudy conditions predicted for Saturday and Sunday. A small craft advisory remains in effect for coastal waters through Saturday.

At 10 a.m., the center of Tropical Depression Nicole had moved into northern Georgia. It is expected to continue tracking to north and northeast, moving into the western Carolinas later today.
At 10 a.m., the center of Tropical Depression Nicole had moved into northern Georgia. It is expected to continue tracking to north and northeast, moving into the western Carolinas later today.

11 a.m. Friday

So far, impacts from Nicole have been minimal, with rumbles of thunder, overcast skies and brief showers falling across I have region.

According to an updated briefing from the National Weather Service office in Wilmington, a threat for isolated tornadoes is expected to continue through early this afternoon. Throughout the day, wind gusts — even those occurring outside of thunderstorms — could exceed 35 miles per hour.

A high surf advisory remains in effect for area beaches, and a small craft advisory will be in effect for the coastal waters through Saturday. Up to one-half inch of rain is possible today.

Nicole’s impacts on the Carolinas will end tonight as the storm’s remnants move north.

Around 6:30 a.m. Tropical Depression Nicole had moved into Southern Georgia. The center of the storm is expected to move over the northern Georgia and the western Carolinas later today, with the Cape Fear region seeing impacts in the form of isolated tornadoes, rain and gusty winds.
Around 6:30 a.m. Tropical Depression Nicole had moved into Southern Georgia. The center of the storm is expected to move over the northern Georgia and the western Carolinas later today, with the Cape Fear region seeing impacts in the form of isolated tornadoes, rain and gusty winds.

8 a.m. Friday

Tropical Depression Nicole continues to weaken as it moves over land. The most recent update from the National Weather Service showed the center in southern Georgia.

The storm is moving toward the north-northwest around 16 mph, with an acceleration toward the north and northeast expected later today. On its forecast track, the storm will move across central and northern Georgia and into the western Carolinas later today. Maximum sustained winds are near 35 miles per hour, with stronger gusts possible.

According to a forecast from National Weather Service office in Wilmington, Tropical Depression Nicole will bring the potential for isolated tornadoes throughout the morning. Impacts to the Cape Fear region will also include minor coastal flooding with Friday’s high tide, which will occur around 9 a.m.

“Inundation will be similar or slightly lower than levels observed Thursday morning,” the report states.

Gusty winds, up to 40 miles per hour, are possible area wide, mainly on Friday. Rainfall amounts of 1 to 2 inches are expected. Rough surf with strong rip currents is also predicted, with hazardous marine conditions anticipated to continue through Saturday.

This article originally appeared on Wilmington StarNews: Nicole live updates: Wilmington area seeing little effects