Nicole made its first U.S. landfall along Florida's east coast early Thursday morning as a Category 1 storm, the National Hurricane Center said. The center of Nicole came ashore just around 3 a.m. just south of Vero Beach packing 75 mph winds. Within an hour, the NHC said Nicole weakened to a tropical storm, with maximum sustained winds dropping to 70 mph. It will continue its track across the state of Florida throughout the day Thursday. Here at home, a tropical storm warning is in effect for much of the west coast of Florida — including the Tampa Bay area — for possible impacts from gusty winds. Heavy downpours and storm surge is possible, too, especially on the Nature Coast where a storm surge watch remains in effect. MORE: https://bit.ly/3fWucxa