Nicole strengthens to Category 1 hurricane with likely impacts in Georgia

ATLANTA — Nicole became a Category 1 hurricane on Wednesday evening as the storm made landfall on Grand Bahama Island.

Hurricane Nicole is expected to have some impacts in Georgia by the end of the week.

Nicole is the first hurricane to make landfall in the U.S. in November U.S. since 1985. The storm is currently packing winds estimated to be sustained at 75 mph with higher wind gusts.

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Severe Weather Team 2 Meteorologist Brian Monahan said Nicole is expected to make landfall by early Thursday morning somewhere between Cape Canaveral and West Palm Beach, Fl. The storm is then expected to move back out over the northeast Gulf of Mexico before winding up through south and middle Georgia.

Southeast Georgia could see brief tornadoes, heavy rainfall and strong winds.

Here’s what to expect:

• 1 - 2″ of rainfall
• Wind gusts of 25-35 mph with gusts over 40 mph
• Level 1 risk of severe weather for southeast Georgia

Winds picking up as Nicole bears down on Florida coast

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