Tropical Storm Nicholas Is Expected To Make Landfall Along The Texas Coast

HOUSTON, TX — Tropical Storm Nicholas has formed in the southwestern Gulf of Mexico and is expected to have an impact along the Texas coast and the Houston area, according to the National Hurricane Center. Hurricane, tropical storm and storm surge warnings and watches are in effect for various areas of Texas.

The hurricane watch is in effect for the area from Port Aransas to Sargent Texas, the National Weather Service announced at 7 p.m. Sunday.

Storm surge warnings have been called for Port Aransas to San Luis Pass Texas and Aransas Bay, San Antonio Bay and Matagorda Bay. Tropical storm warnings are in effect from the mouth of the Rio Grande to Freeport, Texas, and from Barra el Mezquital to the U.S./Mexico border.

The storm surge watch is from the mouth of the Rio Grande to High Island, Texas, and a tropical storm watch is in effect from north of Freeport to High Island, the NWS said.

Surge of 3 to 5 feet is expected in Matagorda Bay and 2 to 4 feet is expected in Galveston Bay.

A disorganized storm system moved over the Yucatán Peninsula and into the Gulf of Mexico on Saturday.

It rapidly strengthened into a tropical storm by Sunday morning, and in its 10 a.m. update, NHC issued the first tropical storm warning along the Texas coast from the Rio Grande River to Port Aransas. A tropical storm watch was issued for the stretch of the coast from Port Aransas to High Island, which is just southeast of Houston.

Tropical Storm Nicholas is expected to bring tropical storm conditions to the southern Texas coast by Monday and is forecast to continue to move toward the middle and upper coast. Tropical storm conditions are expected in the middle and upper Texas coast and the Houston area beginning late Monday and through Tuesday.

Live in Houston? Click here to subscribe to our free breaking news alerts delivered to your inbox and mobile devices. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter, and download our free mobile app on Android or iPhone.

According to the National Weather Service Houston, rainfall totals between 8 and 16 inches are expected, but it could reach up to 20 inches in some places, especially near the coast.

NWS Houston meteorologist Dan Reilly said that flash flooding is the biggest concern in the Houston area. A flash flood watch has been issued for several counties in southeast Texas, including Harris and Galveston Counties. According to NWS Houston, the flash flood threat is expected to begin Sunday night and continue through at least Tuesday.

"We can't rule out the possibility of a Category 1 hurricane as was discussed yesterday, but right now it's more likely [going to be] a strong tropical storm as it makes landfall," Reilly said in a video update. "We're going to have to watch this the next few days, there is a good chance of it to strengthen."