The deadly Hurricane Nicole, downgraded to

to a tropical storm but still massive and dangerous

pounded central Florida with strong winds and heavy rain

on Thursday afternoon, leaving more than

330,000 homes and businesses without electricity.

At 4 p.m., the unusual November hurricane—a Category 1 storm that 

 made landfall south of Vero Beach early on Thursday—was

situated approximately 105 miles to the north-northwest of Tampa.