Nicole is now a Category 1 Hurricane as it gets closer to Florida

At 6:00 p.m., the National Hurricane Center said Nicole had formed into a hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 75 mph. The storm will make landfall within a few hours from now.

Updated weather models have changed this hour, showing Nicole making landfall in St. Lucie County, with the eye of the storm moving across Indian River County, potentially across Sebastian, at approximately 1:00 a.m. But the worst part of Nicole is the northern part of the storm from the eye that will likely hit Brevard, Volusia, and Flagler counties.

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Forecasters are confident that Nicole will remain a Category 1 and is expected to weaken to a tropical storm after entering Florida. Residents should take this storm seriously. 

Sebastian and Vero Beach are experiencing tropical winds this evening and beach erosion. Some of the docks in the Indian River Lagoon in Sebastian are coming apart, and at least two anchored boats have washed ashore near Indian River Drive.

At 6:00 p.m., Nicole was approximately 200 miles from West Palm Beach, moving at 13 mph.

There is beach erosion at Wabasso Beach, and a few homes may be in danger of collapsing along A1A. 

The Indian River County landfill and Roseland Convenience Center will be closed until Friday.

Sebastian Daily will continue to update you when more information is available.