Tropical Storm Nicole live updates: Roads flooding during high tide; power outages reported

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Nicole made landfall on Florida's East Coast as a Category 1 hurricane at about 3 a.m. Thursday, just south of Vero Beach.

Locally, school districts in Duval, St. Johns and Clay counties are closed today.

Also in Jacksonville, a state of emergency went into effect at midnight and two emergency shelters are expected to open at 8 a.m. for residents, including those with special needs, seeking shelter. They include:

• The Legends Center, 5130 Soutel Dr.: Open for general population, special needs, and pet-friendly.

• Landmark Middle, 101 Kernan Blvd.: Open for general population and pet-friendly.

No evacuations have been ordered.

Jacksonville offices will be closed Thursday and Friday.

Curbside garbage, recycling, bulk and yard waste collections are canceled for Thursday. The make-up day will be Saturday, Nov. 12.

Major events were also disrupted: The Jacksonville Fair is closed today and has reduced hours on Friday. The city's Veterans Day parade on Friday was canceled.

Follow our live blog throughout the day for more updates.

Quick Northeast Florida Tropical Storm Nicole links:

7 p.m. | New National Hurricane Center advisory: Nicole winds now 40 mph

The National Hurricane Center issued its new advisory on Tropical Storm Nicole, which is now centered about 40 miles southeast of Tallahassee. The storm's intensity continues to diminish over land, but the threat of flooding persists.

The key numbers in the 7 p.m. advisory:

• Location: 30.0°N 83.8°W

• Motion: NW at 15 mph

• Minimum central pressure: 990 mb

• Maximum sustained winds: 40 mph

6:20 p.m. | Jacksonville Sheriff's Office urges residents to avoid flood areas

The Jacksonville Sheriff's Office again called on residents to stay off the roadways as Tropical Storm Nicole begins moving away from North Florida. Water levels are expected to rise again later tonight as high tide approaches.

In a social media post, JSO said that it "is seeing large numbers of vehicles/people in areas experiencing high levels of flooding. This is distracting from resources and delaying assistance from all agencies working to keep citizens safe and roadways clear. PLEASE stay home and off the roadways unless necessary."

In St. Augustine earlier Wednesday, a man sustained injuries that were apparently the result of exposure to live electricit

6:05 p.m. | St. Augustine reopens Bridge of Lions

St. Augustine emergency management officials announced that the Bridge of Lions is now back open, in addition to King Street in downtown St. Augustine.

5 p.m. | JaxPort plans Friday morning reopening

As originally planned, JaxPort expects to reopen its gates at 6:30 a.m. Friday. Operating hours for companies conducting business within the port may vary.

In addition, Carnival announced in an afternoon update that the Carnival Elation cruise ship is expected to return to Jacksonville on Friday after port officials complete a standard assessment. The voyage that was originally scheduled to begin today will instead take place Friday, as a three-day trip with a single stop in the Bahamas.

4:25 p.m. | All roads open in Neptune Beach

Neptune Beach officials announced that all roads have been reopened following coastal flooding. However, some roads could be forced to close again this evening around the time of high tide, which is about 9:30 p.m.

4:10 p.m. | Bystanders rescue man they say was shocked by live wire in St. Augustine floodwaters

A man was apparently shocked by a live wire in St. Augustine floodwaters on Thursday as the area experienced the effects of Tropical Storm Nicole, before being rescued by bystanders.  | Read more --Corey Perrine

3:55 p.m. | Six weeks after Ian, St. Augustine neighborhood underwater again from Hurricane Nicole

Georgina Perez and her husband, Garrett, are watching via a camera mounted on a palm tree as their home in Davis Shores floods for a second time in as many months.

Their home, which sits at the corner of Arricola and Zorayda avenues in the St. Augustine neighborhood, had a foot of water in it by 9 a.m. on Thursday after Nicole made landfall on Florida's east coast as a Category 1 hurricane. | Read more --Katherine Lewin

3:45 p.m. | New National Hurricane Center advisory: Key numbers on Nicole

As of the 4 p.m. advisory, Nicole is still spinning at tropical storm strength, with a center of circulation about 15 miles northwest of Cedar Key in Florida's Big Bend. Tropical storm warnings remain in effect for Northeast Florida, although they have been discontinued from Volusia County southward.

• Position: 29.4°N 83.2°W

• Movement: NW at 15 mph

• Minimum central pressure: 990 mb

• Maximum sustained winds: 45 mph

The National Hurricane Center expects Nicole to weaken to a tropical depression tonight over Georgia, eventually accelerating to the northeast toward the Carolinas.

3:35 p.m. | St. Johns County officials warn of 'significant impact' from Nicole

St. Johns County emergency officials said during a mid-afternoon press conference flood waters are receding for now in the county, but conditions are expected to worsen again as high tide approaches around 9:30 p.m.

St. Johns County Fire Rescue chief Jeff Prevatt said the department has performed multiple rescues, particularly along the stretch of A1A that collapsed following erosion. About 6-7 miles of A1A are described as compromised, and some other roads in and around St. Augustine are flooded or impassable. Currently, crews are removing loose chunks of asphalt and strengthening the road ahead of the next high tide.

Several other notes from the press conference:

• A circuit was taken down after an individual received an electric shock in floodwaters in St. Augustine, and no timetable was announced for its return. Officials did not provide further details about the person's condition.

• Tropical storm-force gusts are still expected through Friday. However, because Nicole is now northwest of the area, winds for tonight's high tide will be coming from the opposite direction, which is less likely to drive tidal waters onshore.

• St. Augustine city manager John Regan said the storm has produced flooding within about two inches of that produced by Hurricane Ian in September.

• The Bridge of Lions remains closed until its assessment by the Department of Transportation.

3 p.m. | Nearly 7,000 JEA customers without power

As of 3 p.m., JEA reported 6,943 customers without power, well below the peak from earlier today. Most of the outages are located east of the St. Johns River.

Meanwhile, the Florida Department of Transportation has begun repairs to A1A in St. Johns County.

2 p.m. | St. Johns County: 6-mile stretch of A1A closed

St. Johns County emergency management officials announced that a 6-mile stretch of A1A — between Guana River Road and Carcaba Road, covering portions of Vilano Beach and South Ponte Vedra Beach — is currently impassable because of flooding.

1:30 p.m. | St. Johns County officials: Please stay home

St. Johns County officials are asking residents to stay home and shelter in place even as it appears that the worst of Nicole has passed.

That's because the county is still experiencing areas of flooding, closing roadways and damaging homes, and even forcing rescues of some residents from their homes, said St. Johns County Administrator Hunter Conrad.

Also, officials say that a 6-mile stretch of A1A from Guana River Road to Carcaba Road is impassable at this time and for residents in the area to remain at home.

12:25 | Mayor Curry: Stay out of the water and off the roads

During a delayed press briefing, Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry said that Duval County remains under a state of emergency, tropical storm warning and flood surge warning due to Nicole.

"The biggest threat that remains is storm surge and coastal flooding along the beaches and St. Johns River," Curry said, noting that he does not expect evacuations but that anyone needing shelter can use one of two emergency shelters opened by the city this morning.

More than two dozen residents have sought shelter at Landmark Middle School and Legends Center, a member of Curry's staff said.

Once again, the mayor implored residents to "stay out of the water and off of the beaches" due to the increased risk posed by weather conditions.

Noting several traffic accidents, including one that closed the Dames Point Bridge, Mayor Curry also asked residents to stay off the roads until the storm passes and the tidal flooding events have subsided.

12:15 p.m. | Surf pounds Vilano Beach

Heavy surf from Nicole continues to pound the coastline, and in Vilano Beach, video shared by First Coast News shows heavy damage to the dunes and parts of A1A, areas that were hit hard by Ian.

11 a.m. | Flooding in St. Augustine at high tide

Here's a look at some of the flooding in St. Augustine during high tide on Thursday morning.

10 a.m. |Power outages reported

About 23,000 customers are without power in the JEA service area.

JEA crews have been out this morning working on issues as they come up.

In addition, about 11,000 people in Clay County are without power right now, and about 4,000 people in St Johns County, according to poweroutage.us.

Is your electricity out? See the latest power outages in Duval, Clay, St. Johns and Nassau counties

9:50 a.m. | High tide brings more flooding to Northeast Florida

Now that it's high tide in our area, the St Augustine Police Department is reporting that the city is flooding at a rapid pace, with several roads impassable. They're asking people to avoid driving if possible.

Also, here's what it was looking like in Jacksonville Beach during high tide:

9:30 a.m. | Flooding continues in St Augustine

More areas than usual are flooding in St Augustine.

Davis Shores, which experienced flooding during Hurricane Ian, is again seeing rising water.

8:00 a.m. | Many flights at Jacksonville International Airport canceled today

Jacksonville International Airport is open, but many flights have been canceled.

You can see flight updates here. Also, the airport says check your flight status directly with your carrier.

Also, more roads are closed in St Johns County because of flooding.

7:55 a.m. | Flooding blocks part of SR A1A in St Augustine area

Flooding blocks State Road A1A at Carcaba Road in St Augustine area, the Florida Department of Transportation reports.

7:30 a.m. | Bridge of Lions closed to traffic

The Bridge of Lions is blocked to traffic this morning, the Florida Department of Transportation reported. All lanes are closed.

The closure comes after First Coast News' Lew Turner reported that at least two sailboats had broken loose and hit the bridge.

Tropical Storm Nicole: When can Jacksonville-area bridges be expected to be shut down?

7:00 a.m. | Latest report from the National Hurricane Center

Nicole continues to move into Central Florida WNW at 14 mph, with maximum sustained winds of 60 mph

6:30 a.m. | Sights and sounds early this morning

First Coast News, our news partner, has crews in parts of Northeast Florida and Southeast Georgia this morning. Here are a few of the things they're seeing and hearing:

6:20 a.m. | Tornado watch issued for Northeast Florida

A tornado watch is in effect until 1 p.m. today throughout much of Northeast Florida.

6:00 a.m. | Major beach erosion concerns locally

Nicole is bringing moderate to major tidal flooding around high tide today, the National Weather Service is reporting.

Concerns include destructive surf, major beach erosion and deadly rip currents at all local beaches, according to the service.

There are also threats of tornados, with areas east of I-95 most vulnerable.

Localized flash flooding is possible. Winds could cause fallen trees or limbs, power outages and damage to buildings or mobile homes. The debris could block some roads.

5:45 a.m. | Nicole made landfall just south of Vero Beach

The National Weather Service reported that Nicole made landfall at about 3 a.m. on North Hutchinson Island just south of Vero Beach. Maximum sustained winds were at about 75 mph. Winds were down to 70 mph by the 4 a.m. update.

Along Jacksonville's coast, wind gusts were reported at between 40 to 55 mph shortly after Nicole made landfall.

Peak storm surge is expected along the coast of Northeast Florida between 9 a.m. and 10 a.m., with impacts on the St Johns River throughout the afternoon.

5 a.m. | Updated tracking map, forecast for Tropical Storm Nicole

Here's the latest update on Tropical Storm Nicole from the National Hurricane Center.

This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Hurricane Nicole in Jacksonville, Thursday: What you need to know