Skip Navigation Links
NOAA NOAA United States Department of Commerce

Tropical Storm NICHOLAS


ZCZC MIATCPAT4 ALL
TTAA00 KNHC DDHHMM
 
BULLETIN
Tropical Storm Nicholas Intermediate Advisory Number 5A
NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL       AL142021
700 AM CDT Mon Sep 13 2021
 
...NICHOLAS MOVING ERRATICALLY JUST OFFSHORE THE NORTHEASTERN 
COAST OF MEXICO...
...FLASH FLOODING, DANGEROUS STORM SURGE, AND GUSTY WINDS EXPECTED 
ALONG THE SOUTHERN TEXAS COAST TODAY...
 
 
SUMMARY OF 700 AM CDT...1200 UTC...INFORMATION
----------------------------------------------
LOCATION...25.4N 96.9W
ABOUT 40 MI...65 KM SSE OF MOUTH OF THE RIO GRANDE
ABOUT 210 MI...335 KM S OF PORT OCONNOR TEXAS
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...60 MPH...95 KM/H
PRESENT MOVEMENT...NNW OR 345 DEGREES AT 5 MPH...7 KM/H
MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...1001 MB...29.56 INCHES
 
 
WATCHES AND WARNINGS
--------------------
CHANGES WITH THIS ADVISORY:
 
None.
 
SUMMARY OF WATCHES AND WARNINGS IN EFFECT:
 
A Storm Surge Warning is in effect for...
* Port Aransas to San Luis Pass Texas
* Aransas Bay, San Antonio Bay, and Matagorda Bay
 
A Hurricane Watch is in effect for...
* Port Aransas to Freeport Texas
 
A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for...
* Mouth of the Rio Grande to High Island Texas
* Barra el Mezquital to the U.S./Mexico border
 
A Storm Surge Watch is in effect for...
* Mouth of the Rio Grande to Port Aransas Texas
* San Luis Pass Texas to Rutherford Beach Louisiana, including
Galveston Bay
* Baffin Bay and Corpus Christi Bay
 
A Tropical Storm Watch is in effect for...
* East of High Island Texas to Sabine Pass
 
A Storm Surge Warning means there is a danger of life-threatening
inundation, from rising water moving inland from the coastline,
during the next 36 hours in the indicated locations. For a
depiction of areas at risk, please see the National Weather
Service Storm Surge Watch/Warning Graphic, available at
hurricanes.gov.  This is a life-threatening situation.  Persons
located within these areas should take all necessary actions to
protect life and property from rising water and the potential for
other dangerous conditions.  Promptly follow evacuation and other
instructions from local officials.
 
A Tropical Storm Warning means that tropical storm conditions are
expected somewhere within the warning area.
 
A Storm Surge Watch means there is a possibility of life-threatening
inundation, from rising water moving inland from the coastline, in
the indicated locations during the next 48 hours. For a depiction of
areas at risk, please see the National Weather Service Storm Surge
Watch/Warning Graphic, available at hurricanes.gov.
 
A Hurricane Watch means that hurricane conditions are possible
within the watch area.
 
A Tropical Storm Watch means that tropical storm conditions are
possible within the watch area.
 
Interests elsewhere along the upper Texas coast and southwestern
Louisiana should monitor the progress of this system.
 
For storm information specific to your area in the United
States, including possible inland watches and warnings, please
monitor products issued by your local National Weather Service
forecast office. For storm information specific to your area
outside of the United States, please monitor products issued by
your national meteorological service.
 
 
DISCUSSION AND OUTLOOK
----------------------
At 700 AM CDT (1200 UTC), the center of Tropical Storm Nicholas was
located near latitude 25.4 North, longitude 96.9 West. Nicholas has
been drifting toward the north-northwest near 5 mph (7 km/h). The 
storm should move northward later today at a faster forward speed, 
and turn north-northeastward on Tuesday. On the forecast track, the 
center of Nicholas will pass near or just offshore the coasts of 
northeastern Mexico and south Texas this morning, and move onshore 
along the coast of south or central Texas late this afternoon or 
evening.
 
Maximum sustained winds are near 60 mph (95 km/h) with higher 
gusts. Strengthening is forecast today, and Nicholas could reach the
northwest Gulf coast as a hurricane.  Weakening is anticipated on
Tuesday and Wednesday while Nicholas moves over land.
 
Tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 115 miles (185 km)
from the center. A Weatherflow station on South Padre Island, 
Texas, recently reported a wind gust to 45 mph (72 km/h).
 
The estimated minimum central pressure is 1001 mb (29.56 inches).
 
 
HAZARDS AFFECTING LAND
----------------------
Key messages for Nicholas can be found in the Tropical Cyclone
Discussion under AWIPS header MIATCDAT4, WMO header WTNT44 KNHC
and on the web at hurricanes.gov/graphics_at4.shtml?key_messages
 
RAINFALL:  Nicholas is expected to produce storm total rainfall of
8 to 16 inches, with isolated maximum amounts of 20 inches, across
portions of the middle and upper Texas coastal areas through the
middle of the week. Across the rest of coastal Texas into southwest
Louisiana rainfall of 5 to 10 inches is expected. This rainfall may
produce areas of considerable flash and urban flooding, especially
in highly urbanized metropolitan areas. Additionally, there is the
potential for isolated minor to moderate river flooding.
 
STORM SURGE: The combination of a dangerous storm surge and the tide
will cause normally dry areas near the coast to be flooded by rising
waters moving inland from the shoreline.  The water could reach the
following heights above ground somewhere in the indicated areas if
the peak surge occurs at the time of high tide...
 
Port O'Connor to San Luis Pass TX including Matagorda Bay... 3-5 ft
San Luis Pass, TX to Rutherford Beach, LA including Galveston
Bay...2-4 ft
Mouth of the Rio Grande to Port O'Connor, TX...2-4 ft
Baffin Bay, Corpus Christi Bay, Aransas Bay and San Antonio
Bay...2-4 ft
Rutherford Beach, LA to Intracoastal City, LA...1-3 ft
Sabine Lake and Calcasieu Lake...1-3 ft
 
The deepest water will occur along the immediate coast in areas
of onshore winds, where the surge will be accompanied by large and
dangerous waves.  Surge-related flooding depends on the relative
timing of the surge and the tidal cycle, and can vary greatly over
short distances.  For information specific to your area, please see
products issued by your local National Weather Service forecast
office.
 
WIND:  Tropical storm conditions are expected to first reach the
coast within the warning area in northeastern Mexico and southern
Texas this morning, making outside preparations difficult or
dangerous.  These conditions will spread northward within the
warning area through tonight.  Hurricane conditions are possible in
the Hurricane Watch area as early as this afternoon.  Tropical storm
conditions are possible within the watch area by tonight or early
Tuesday.
 
TORNADOES:  A tornado or two will be possible today into tonight
across the Texas coast.
 
SURF:  Swells generated by Nicholas will continue affecting
portions of the northwest Gulf coast through Tuesday. These swells
are likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip current
conditions.  Please consult products from your local weather office.
 
 
NEXT ADVISORY
-------------
Next complete advisory at 1000 AM CDT.
 
$$
Forecaster Stewart
 
NNNN