Tropical Storm Nicole: Rain starts in Wilmington as Cape Fear sees impacts
On Thursday afternoon, a steady rain began to fall in Wilmington as the area started seeing some of the forecasted effects from Tropical Storm Nicole.
While the Wilmington area should escape direct impacts from the storm, Southeastern North Carolina is set to see peripheral effects, including rain, wind gusts of up to 40 mph, minor flooding and even possible tornados.
As of 4 p.m. Thursday, the National Hurricane Center reported the center of Tropical Storm Nicole was straddling the Florida coast of Florida's Big Bend region, creating the potential for strong winds, heavy rain and storm surge. The storm, which at 4 p.m. was located roughly 95 miles southeast of Tallahassee and 105 miles northwest of Tampa, had maximum sustained winds of 45 mph and was headed northwest at a rate of about 15 mph, according to the National Hurricane Center.
Tim Armstrong, a forecaster with the National Weather Service's Wilmington office, said the Wilmington area could still expect to see an inch or two of rain, which is less than originally expected. That's not enough rain to pull the area out of current drought conditions, Armstrong said.
Most of the impacts from the storm will be felt locally starting Thursday night into Friday, he said.
Nicole made landfall on Florida's east coast on Thursday around 3 a.m. as a 75-mph hurricane. Shortly after reaching land, the National Hurricane Center downgraded Nicole to a tropical storm. Still, the storm has brought widespread impacts to the state, including several inches of rain and high winds that have left thousands without power, according to reporting from the Palm Beach Post.
A model issued Thursday by the National Hurricane Center shows the storm turning north, tracking through Florida, Georgia, and the western parts of South Carolina, North Carolina and Virginia. The storm is expected to track over the eastern part of the Florida Panhandle and move into Georgia Thursday night, according to the National Hurricane Center.
Nicole's projected track has shifted to the west this week, distancing the bulk of the storm impacts from the Wilmington area.
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Coming soon to the Carolina coast
Starting Thursday, Southeastern North Carolina can expect to see an increased risk of tornados, high winds, rainfall and rough surf, according to the National Weather Service's Wilmington office.
A top concern for local forecasters is an increased tornado risk, which is set to begin Thursday night and continue into Friday. Much of the storm's impact will be felt on Friday with the possibility of strong thunderstorms and wind gusts of up to 40 mph.
The area can expect strong, gusty winds, starting late Thursday along with rough surf, large breaking waves and strong rip currents. Due to high winds and choppy conditions, a small craft advisory went into effect Monday at midnight and will continue into the weekend.
Rain is likely in the Wilmington area through Friday. The latest forecasts show the area can expect to see between 1 to 1.5 inches of rain. Rain chances will peak Thursday night into Friday morning. Some coastal flooding of up to two feet can be expected at area beaches and in downtown Wilmington through Friday, according to the National Weather Service's Wilmington office.
Forecasters said any impacts from the storm should move quickly through the area and that Nicole be a short-lived weather event for the Cape Fear region.
This year, the Wilmington area has been spared by the storms of a relatively quiet hurricane season. The Cape Fear region did feel some impacts from the remnants of Hurricane Ian earlier this fall with high winds and rain after the storm made landfall for a second time in South Carolina.
The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 through Nov. 30.
Reporter Emma Dill can be reached at edill@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Wilmington StarNews: Tropical Storm Nicole brings steady rain to Wilmington
