Tropical Storm Nicole: Live updates on hurricane's effects on St. Lucie County Thursday
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Hurricane Nicole made landfall just south of Vero Beach at 3 a.m. Thursday.
Maximum sustained winds were estimated to be 75 mph. An hour after landfall, Nicole weakened into a tropical storm, with maximum sustained winds of 70 mph.
Nicole continued to move west-northwest at 14 mph, bringing strong winds, dangerous storm surge and waves, and heavy rain over a large area of Florida. Tropical storm force winds extended outward up to 450 miles from the center, especially to the north.
TCPalm reporters and photographers will be roaming the Treasure Coast today to bring you images and information about how the area fared. Here's what you need to know:
Scroll to the bottom for links to more weather information
8 p.m. Parks and beaches to reopen
All but two county parks are expected to open by 8 a.m. Friday, according to spokesperson Erick Gill.
North Causeway Island Park, White City Park and Fairwinds Golf Course will remain closed until flooding subsides, Gill said.
All county beaches, except Walton Rocks, also are to open by 8 a.m. Friday.
5:30 p.m. - Roads reopen
Indian River Drive, from Walton Road to the southern end of the St. Lucie County line, is reopen, according to the Sheriff's Office.
3:50 p.m. - Lakewood Park
Lakewood Park in western St. Lucie County, a neighborhood that typically has drainage issues, was fairly dry post Hurricane Nicole. Culverts captured most flooding, which was minimal. The occasional tree limb and other trash from construction sites was scattered. #TCweather pic.twitter.com/8t4cD5KPs2
— Olivia McKelvey (@olivia_McKelvey) November 10, 2022
2:30 p.m. - Spanish Lakes
I’m in Spanish Lakes near Port St. Lucie, a historically low-lying area in St. Lucie County prone to flooding. The mobile home community here was sparred from Hurricane Nicole. Damage consists of mild flooding near the clubhouse and scattered tree limbs. @TCPalm #TCweather pic.twitter.com/2CpN7S1fPX
— Olivia McKelvey (@olivia_McKelvey) November 10, 2022
2 p.m. - Power outages
2,400 Florida Power & Light Co. customers in St. Lucie County and 23 Fort Pierce Utilities Authority customers were without power as of 1:15 p.m.
2 p.m. - City of Port St. Lucie
City offices will be closed Friday for Veterans Day and will reopen Monday.
All city parks will reopen Friday, but ballfields may not be playable if they're saturated with water. The ballfields at Whispering Pines Park will not reopen to the public until Saturday to allow fields time to dry.
These remain closed to the public until the water recedes to a level where staff can assess their safety:
Boardwalk from Tom Hooper Park to Veterans Park at Rivergate
Boat ramp at C-24 Canal Park
Boat ramp at Veterans Park at Rivergate
1:45 p.m. - St. Lucie Village
Fifteen homes have 3-5 feet of water inside them from the Indian River Lagoon's storm surge, according to St. Lucie County spokesperson Erick Gill.
12:30 p.m. - Parks closed
All St. Lucie County parks, preserves and beach accesses will remain closed until Friday, Nov. 11.
Noon - Restaurants reopening
Taco Dive restaurant across from Ft. Pierce Jetty Park Taking down the storm shutters on Thursday, November 10 after Hurricane Nicole passed through the area. #tcweather @TCPalmCrystal #HurricanNicole pic.twitter.com/RDUjk8LdYb
— Eric Hasert (@TCPalmHasert) November 10, 2022
The staff of Hurricane Grill and Wings across from Ft. Pierce Jetty Park setting up shop after Hurricane Nicole leaves the Treasure Coast On Thursday, November 10 #tcweather @tcpalm #HurricanNicole pic.twitter.com/LfPQ207zfg
— Eric Hasert (@TCPalmHasert) November 10, 2022
11:30 a.m. - Fort Pierce City Marina
Some of the docks at the #FortPierce City Marina remain under water this morning after #TropicalStormNicole. #TCweather pic.twitter.com/nSgv0X4n7X
— Laurie K. Blandford (@TCPalmLaurie) November 10, 2022
11:15 a.m. - St. Lucie Village
Flooding found inside some homes in low-lying areas near Indian River Drive in St. Lucie Village after #TropicalStormNicole. #FortPierce #TCweather pic.twitter.com/9e6OFGdCwV
— Laurie K. Blandford (@TCPalmLaurie) November 10, 2022
That’s not a sight you see every day. An airboat glides over Indian River Drive at the end of Chamberlin Boulevard in St. Lucie Village after #TropicalStormNicole. #FortPierce #TCweather pic.twitter.com/U25AjyCKCe
— Laurie K. Blandford (@TCPalmLaurie) November 10, 2022
Remember that sailboat next to the dock yesterday at the end of Chamberlin Boulevard in St. Lucie Village? It’s sunk today after #TropicalStormNicole. #FortPierce #TCweather pic.twitter.com/fOvNjzvjPO
— Laurie K. Blandford (@TCPalmLaurie) November 10, 2022
10:40 a.m. - Downtown Fort Pierce
Most businesses in and around downtown #FortPierce remain closed Thursday morning after #TropicalStormNicole. Good news: @SailfishBrewing reopens at 11 a.m. #TCweather pic.twitter.com/4UgL4e5mPV
— Laurie K. Blandford (@TCPalmLaurie) November 10, 2022
10:20 a.m. - Sunken boat
There's also a sunken boat on the north side of Wesley's Island. That's the one you can see to the north as you head eastbound over the South Causeway Island bridge.
Sunken boat - only one - at Causeway Cove Marina in Fort Pierce. Marina manager told people to haul out boats before a named storm #HurricaneNicole but ignored advice
Photo by Causeway Cove#tcweather @TCPalm pic.twitter.com/nFXPNqE0Ek— Ed Killer (@TCPalmEKiller) November 10, 2022
10 a.m. - National Guard
Photos of National Guard at the end of Chamberlin Boulevard, checking if St. Lucie Village residents need rescue after #TropicalStormNicole. #FortPierce #TCweather pic.twitter.com/oX7BgTsash
— Laurie K. Blandford (@TCPalmLaurie) November 10, 2022
9:50 a.m. - Veterans Park
Sections of Veterans Park in Port St. Lucie are underwater #tcweather pic.twitter.com/AYPcHHGjAc
— Jon Santucci (@JonSantucci) November 10, 2022
9:50 a.m. - Fort Pierce jetty
Fort Pierce jetty seen on November 10, 2022 after hurricane now tropical storm Nicole. Waves are seen heading south wall of jetty #tcweather #Nicolestorm damage @tcpalm pic.twitter.com/gfbFa2fU6j
— Eric Hasert (@TCPalmHasert) November 10, 2022
9:30 a.m. - Power outages
Over 4,300 Florida Power & Light Co. customers in St. Lucie County were without power as of 9 a.m. Thursday, and over 12,000 customers’ power had been restored.
In Fort Pierce, over 300 people were without power.
9:15 a.m. - River Park Marina
Water level is a little higher than usual at River Park Marina in Port St. Lucie #tcweather pic.twitter.com/Xvsfo9jD8Q
— Jon Santucci (@JonSantucci) November 10, 2022
9 a.m. - Road report
The north and south bridges to the barrier island have been officially reopened, although traffic was going around the barricades before they were removed. A1A is open.
Indian River Drive remains closed from Walton Road south to the Martin County line as crews work on clearing debris and fallen power lines. Parts of the road are washed away and repairs are expected to take several weeks.
8:50 a.m. - Cracker Boy Boat Works
Yes, Ed Killer, that's still the name of this iconic boatyard on North Second Street.
Wondering where many of the boats went? Boat yards like the old Cracker Boy (is that still it's name) in Fort Pierce hauled out about 70? Boats before #TropicalStormNicole
Storing these boats "on the hard" as they say is preferable to leaving in its slip#tcweather @TCPalm pic.twitter.com/QvxVXb8iKi— Ed Killer (@TCPalmEKiller) November 10, 2022
8:45 a.m. - Fort Pierce Jetty Park
City of Fort Pierce public works are busy cleaning jetty Park, erecting fencing blocking off the severely damaged sidewalks, and cleaning up debris from hurricane Nicole On Thursday, Nov. 10. #tcweather #tcpalm @tcpalm #HurricaneNicole pic.twitter.com/6vUbUhK3z3
— Eric Hasert (@TCPalmHasert) November 10, 2022
8:25 a.m. - White City Park
As usual after a heavy rain, much of White City Park is underwater. Again, not as bad as Hurricane Ian, when the bench was almost completely submerged underwater #tcweather pic.twitter.com/WT31uEyEFH
— Jon Santucci (@JonSantucci) November 10, 2022
8:25 a.m. - Jaycee Park
Jaycee Park in Fort Pierce a notiriously low lying boat ramp is inundated with lagoon water #tcweather pic.twitter.com/0HMU2UAlqX
— Ed Killer (@TCPalmEKiller) November 10, 2022
8:20 a.m. - Storm debris
What’s the weirdest thing found in your yard this morning after #TropicalStormNicole? Luckily no damage and barely any debris at my #FortPierce home — other than this. #TCweather pic.twitter.com/GS9jkK5WHQ
— Laurie K. Blandford (@TCPalmLaurie) November 10, 2022
8:15 a.m. - North Causeway Island
The Indian River Lagoon spilled over its usual boundaries and flooded the docks, boat ramp, parking lot and picnic area at North Causeway Island Park on North Hutchinson Island.
Flooding fills the parking lot at the North Causeway Island Boat Ramp thanks to the storm surge from the #IndianRiverLagoon after #TropicalStormNicole. #FortPierce #TCweather pic.twitter.com/h3yF30jRCr
— Laurie K. Blandford (@TCPalmLaurie) November 10, 2022
7:45 a.m. - Seaway Drive
Parts of Seaway Drive on Fort Pierce South Beach are still flooded, as they were yesterday.
1000 block of Seaway Drive in Fort Pierce underwater, but drivable #tcweather #TSNicole @tcpalm pic.twitter.com/ZVnAo9Fhqm
— Eric Hasert (@TCPalmHasert) November 10, 2022
7:45 a.m. - Power crews
Power company trucks fueling up at @Wawa in #FortPierce before heading out to restore electricity after #TropicalStormNicole. #TCweather pic.twitter.com/KPJGZWoE0h
— Laurie K. Blandford (@TCPalmLaurie) November 10, 2022
7:45 a.m. - Downed trees
Some of the new trees planted at an oceanfront residential development being built on Hutchinson Island south of Fort Pierce and north of the power plant were felled.
7:30 a.m. - North Bridge
The North Causeway Island over the Indian River Lagoon connecting the mainland and North Beach will reopen as soon as crews remove the barricades. But many motorists are just going around them.
A streetlight has fallen on the North Bridge, but it's on the sidewalk and not impeding traffic.
A1A at the Indian River County line is also open.
7 a.m. - Publix
Stores have reopened. The parking lot in the Sabal Palm Plaza in Fort Pierce was full of water, which sometimes happens, but the store manager unclogged the drain.
“Just need to unclog the drain.” Sabal Palm @Publix manager clears the flooded parking lot in #FortPierce after #TropicalStormNicole. #TCweather pic.twitter.com/p37U4Iat8m
— Laurie K. Blandford (@TCPalmLaurie) November 10, 2022
7 a.m. - North Hutchinson Island
The barrier island is quiet: Everyone appears to have power, there's only a few puddles of standing water and barely a palm frond down. The worst areas, as usual, are around the Fort Pierce Inlet State Park and North Causeway Island Park.
The traffic light at North A1A and Shorewinds Drive, which went out Wednesday, was still not working Thursday morning.
Cumberland Farms and the Stan Blum boat ramp are open.
At Avalon Beach, it appears the ocean washed over the dune and into the parking lot.
Still, the effects from Hurricane Ian seemed much worse than this.
6:45 - Road closed
Indian River Drive is still closed just south of Walton Road.
6:30 a.m. - High water
This is highly unscientific, but it appears Port St. Lucie got less rain from Nicole (so far) than it did from Ian
I took a photo of the same sign the morning after Ian and the morning after Nicole#tcweather pic.twitter.com/hOZmvgmf4H— Jon Santucci (@JonSantucci) November 10, 2022
6:15 a.m. - Power outages
14,930 Florida Power & Light Co. customers lost power during the storm:
2,900 were still without power Thursday morning
12,030 had had their power restored
37 Fort Pierce Utilities Authority customers reportedly do not have power.
Be ready: How to download TCPalm's iPhone, Android apps for local updates on Tropical Storm Nicole
Spaghetti models: Check out these automatic updates of Nicole's possible path
Forecast track: Nicole's latest path
Excessive rainfall forecast: Rainfall expectations
This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Hurricane Nicole updates Thursday for Fort Pierce, Port St. Lucie