 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 is one of five December Atlantic hurricanes on record . 
