 A few hours after attaining tropical storm status , a ship just north of the center reported winds of 41 mph ( 66 km / h ) , confirming the system was a tropical storm . Located to the south of a strong mid @-@ level ridge , Nicole continued to the west @-@ southwest while centered within a large upper @-@ level low . Common for late @-@ season development in the subtropics , this produced light vertical shear over the storm . The storm moved through an area of marginal sea surface temperatures of 77 ° F ( 25 ° C ) . An intermittent eye feature of the small area of deep convection , and Nicole quickly strengthened to reach an initial peak intensity of 70 mph ( 115 km / h ) . After maintaining its peak for around twelve hours , an upper @-@ level trough moved rapidly eastward over Nicole , which produced high levels of wind shear . The shear weakened the storm , and by late on November 25 the center became exposed to the west of the diminishing deep convection . The shear dissipated most of the convection , and Nicole degenerated to a tropical depression on November 26 . Operationally , advisories were discontinued , and regeneration was considered unlikely . 
