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Hurricane Nicole near peak intensity

Hurricane Nicole was the last hurricane in the 1998 Atlantic hurricane season. It developed from a frontal low to the south of the Azores on November 24, and quickly strengthened to reach winds of 70 mph (110 km/h) as it moved to the west-southwest. An approaching upper-level trough moved over the system, producing strong wind shear which rapidly weakened Nicole to a tropical depression. After the trough passed, the system entered an area of lighter shear, and steadily restrengthened. An approaching cold front turned it to the northeast, and while moving over anomalously warm sea surface temperatures Nicole attained hurricane status. It reached a peak intensity of 85 mph (135 km/h) on December 1, and rapidly weakened over the waters of the north Atlantic Ocean. Nicole was most intense hurricane and tied for the second strongest hurricane in the month of December.

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