Nicole was downgraded to a tropical storm Thursday morning, shortly after making landfall in Florida, officials at the National Hurricane Center said.

The storm strengthened into a hurricane on Wednesday after pounding the Bahamas, as U.S. officials ordered evacuations that included former President Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago club.

Sustained winds of 30 mph are expected throughout the Tampa Bay area and Sarasota Thursday. We could see wind gusts of from 50 to 55 mph.

Tropical Storm Warnings have now spread into North Central Florida with Nicole expected to bring heavy winds and rain to much of the state on Thursday.

NASA is again postponing the launch of its new moon rocket because of a storm threatening the Florida coast.

Counties in Florida have started calling evacuation orders and opening shelters as Nicole approaches.

Along with increasing winds through this evening, dangerous storm surge up to 5 feet is possible into the overnight hours.

Tropical Storm Nicole is forecast to make landfall along the east coast overnight Thursday before cutting across the state.

Tropical Storm Nicole is just shy of hurricane strength late Tuesday night, but hurricane warnings are in place along the east coast ahead of a midweek landfall.

Rivers such as the Peace River overflowed after Hurricane Ian, and are expected to be impacted once again as Nicole approaches Florida.

A hurricane warning is in effect from Boca Raton to the Flagler-Volusia county line. Meantime, the greater Tampa Bay area and much of the state's west coast are under a tropical storm watch.

The massive storm is predicted to slam and soak Jacksonville as soon as Wednesday with heavy rain and the potential of flooding.