FOG BLOG U.S. NEWS LOG: NICOLE MAKES LANDFALL IN FL. AS A 1 HISTORICALLY LATE IN HURRICANE SEASON!

Tropical Storm Nicole topples Florida homes after making landfall as hurricane Hurricane Nicole made landfall early Thursday along the east coast of Florida just south of Vero Beach before it was downgraded to a tropical storm as it raked across the central part of the state, the National Hurricane Center said. Nicole hit a large area of the storm-weary state with strong winds, dangerous storm surge and heavy rain, the center said.

A man and a woman died after being electrocuted by a downed power line at an intersection, the Orange County Sheriff's Office said Thursday.

"We are urging all of our residents and visitors to use extreme caution if they are outside in the wake of the storm today," the sheriff's office said on Facebook. "Never touch a downed power line. If you are driving and see a downed power line, change directions immediately."

North of where Nicole made landfall, first responders rushed to a couple's docked yacht early Thursday to help a 68-year-old man in distress as the boat was being battered by waves, Cocoa police said. The man died at a hospital. Nicole sent multiple homes toppling into the Atlantic Ocean and threatened a row of high-rise condominiums in places where Hurricane Ian washed away seawalls and other remaining protections only weeks ago.