Tropical Storm Nicholas slammed into Texas early Tuesday, packing maximum sustained winds of 75 mph and bringing warnings of life-threatening flash floods across the Deep South.
Nicholas made landfall on the eastern part of the Matagorda Peninsula, about 30 miles southwest of Houston, as a Category 1 hurricane before quickly being downgraded to a tropical storm.
The National Hurricane Center issued an advisory warning of heavy rains that could result in life-threatening flash floods across the Texas coast, Louisiana and southern Mississippi.
The center of Nicholas was forecast to move slowly over southeastern Texas on Tuesday and over southwestern Louisiana into Wednesday.
Nearly all of Texas’ coastline remains under a tropical storm warning.
Tropical Storm Nicholas made landfall on September 14, 2021, bringing heavy winds and rain.Brandon Bell/Getty ImagesSix to 12 inches of rain is expected on the middle and upper Texas coast, while parts of southeast Texas could see 4 to 8 inches in the coming days.
Tropical Storm Nicholas slammed into Texas early on September 14, 2021, after being downgraded from a hurricane. Brandon Bell/Getty Images
According to a power outage website, more than 360,000 people were already without power and that number is expected to rise. Brandon Bell/Getty Images
Officials in Houston have deployed high-water rescue vehicles ahead of Nicholas’ landfall, expecting massive flooding. REUTERS/Devika Krishna KumarThe National Weather Service warned a tornado or two may be possible Tuesday along the upper Texas and southwest Louisiana coasts.
Officials in Houston feared that heavy rain Tuesday could inundate streets and flood homes.
Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner said they have already deployed high-water rescue vehicles and erected barricades at more than 40 flood-prone locations.
Texas should expect 6 to 12 inches of rain for the middle and upper coast, while parts of southeast Texas could see 4 to 8 inches in the coming days. Brandon Bell/Getty Images
The National Weather Service warned a tornado or two may be possible on September 14, 2021, along the upper Texas coast. HANDOUT/RAMMB/NOAA/NESDIS/AFP via Getty Images
The eye of Nicholas is supposed to move slowly over southwest Texas on September 14, 2021, before moving toward Louisiana. Jon Shapley/Houston Chronicle via APMore than 360,000 were already without power across the area and that number is expected to rise, according to PowerOutage.US.
A number of school districts along the Texas Gulf Coast had already canceled classes due to the incoming storm.
“Listen to local weather alerts and heed local advisories about the right and safe thing to do, and you’ll make it through this storm just like you’ve had many other storms,” Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said during a news conference in Houston.
With Post wires
