Nicole heads up East Coast after 4 deaths in Florida

Four deaths have been tied to Tropical Storm Nicole, all in Florida's Orange County.

A man and a woman died after they were electrocuted by a downed power line on Thursday morning, the Orange County Sheriff’s Office said.

“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 in a statement. “Never touch a downed power line. If you are driving and see a downed power line, change directions immediately.”

Two others died in a car crash on Florida's Turnpike in probable storm-related deaths, Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings said.

In Volusia County, Florida, damage along the coastline is “unprecedented,” according to county manager George Recktenwald.

Nineteen hotels or condos and 40 single-family homes have been compromised after sustaining damage from the storm, said Kevin Captain, the county’s director of community information. Some of the buildings partially collapsed, he said.

No deaths have been reported in the county, Captain said. One person has been injured, he said.

-ABC News’ Victoria Arancio

Tropical Storm Nicole’s heavy rain is focused on North Florida as its powerful winds pummel Florida and the Georgia and South Carolina coasts.

Nicole will continue to weaken over the next 24 hours as it races up the East Coast.

On Friday morning, the rain will target Georgia, the Carolinas and Mid-Atlantic. Flash flooding is possible.

The eastern Carolinas and eastern Virginia could see severe thunderstorms and tornadoes.

The rain will spread into Washington, D.C., and Philadelphia Friday morning and then reach New York by lunchtime and New England in the afternoon.

The heaviest rain and biggest potential for flash flooding will be in the interior Northeast.

Scattered thunderstorms are also possible.

-ABC News’ Dan Peck

Tropical Storm Nicole is about 45 miles north of Tampa and is moving northwest at 15 mph, slamming Florida with rain and wind. Nicole's winds have decreased to 45 mph.

The gusty winds are also extending to the Georgia and South Carolina coast.

Tornado watches are in effect in Savannah, Georgia; Brunswick, Georgia; and Beaufort, South Carolina.

-ABC News’ Dan Peck