Tropical Storm Nicholas Threatens Heavy Rain, Flooding For Texas, Louisiana

After forming over the Gulf of Mexico on Sunday, Tropical Storm Nicholas is expected to hit Texas and Louisiana over the next several days, bringing in threats of heavy rain, flooding, and a storm surge.

Meteorologists have not been able to predict Nicholas’ path, which means there is some uncertainty about its landfall and intensity.

If the tropical storm stays to the right in its path to Texas, Nicholas would remain over water longer and become stronger as opposed to if it makes landfall more west in the state.

“With the exact tract of Nicholas still uncertain, we still have a possibility of further strengthening if this storm stays offshore further northward,” said CNN meteorologist Tom Sater. “Nicholas will be entering some of the warmest waters of the Gulf.”

Nicholas is expected to be a moderate tropical storm with heavy rains and the potential of flooding rainfall. This means the first half of the week will most likely consist of flash flooding near the Gulf Coast stretching from Texas to southwest Louisiana.

There’s also a growing concern that the heavy rains could bring in anywhere between 5 to 10 inches in coastal Texas and up to 15 inches in localized areas.

By Tuesday morning, Nicholas could intensify to ​​65 mph, according to the National Hurricane Center.

A flash flood watch remains in effect for southwestern Louisiana and the coastal region of Texas, including Corpus Christi and Houston.

“Even with an earlier landfall in southern Texas, this storm has the potential for widespread flash flooding. Houston can easily have problems with 4 to 5 inches of rain,” Sater said. “More than that will create bigger problems.”

The strong winds from Tropical Storm Nicholas could also knock down some trees and cause power outages. Thunderstorms and showers are expected to hit Texas and Louisiana by Sunday, but heavy rains are expected to continue throughout the week.