Tropical Storm Nicholas continues to strengthen on its way to Texas, hours after forming, according to the National Hurricane Center (NHC).
This state is under hurricane watch, from Port Aransas to Freeport.
It is expected that, if he stays a longer time on the ocean,
Nicholas could intensify to a category 1 hurricane,
according to the National Water Commission (Conagua) in Mexico.
According to the latest NHC report, the storm is located 45 miles (75 km) southeast of the mouth of the Rio Grande and about 200 miles (325 km) south of Port O'Connor.
According to Conagua, it is east of Barra El Mezquital, Tamaulipas.
Its
maximum sustained winds increased to 60 mph
(95 km / h), with stronger gusts, and it is
moving north-northeast at a speed of 14 mph
(22 / h).
Nicholas can dump
showers of 8 to 16 inches
in parts of the
Texas
coast
,
and
5 to 10 inches in southwestern Louisiana
, from early Monday morning until late in the week, according to forecasters.
Much of the Texas coast is under a tropical storm warning, so
heavy rains are expected to cause flash
flooding.
["He hadn't hit like he did this time": Grace leaves at least 8 dead and houses destroyed in Mexico]
Texas Governor Greg Abbott said the state has placed rescue teams and resources in the Houston area and along the Texas Gulf Coast.
"This is a storm that could leave heavy rain, as well as wind and likely flooding, in various regions along the Gulf Coast. We
urge you to listen for local weather alerts
and heed local warnings," he said Abbot in a message posted on his Twitter account.
The path of Storm Nicholas.NHC / NOAA
[How and when to prepare for a hurricane or tropical storm]
Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards declared a state of emergency Sunday night in the face of the storm in a state still recovering from Hurricane Ida and Hurricane Laura last year and its historic flooding.
"The most serious threat to Louisiana is in the southwestern part of the state, where it is recovering from Hurricane Laura and the May flooding. Heavy rains and flash floods are possible in this area. However, it is also likely that heavy rains are seen throughout southern Louisiana this week, including areas recently affected by Hurricane Ida, "Edwards said.
Experts expect it to turn north later on Monday and north-northeast on Tuesday.
Also, that its center will pass Monday morning near the coasts of northeastern Mexico and southern Texas and then advance over land along the coast this afternoon or evening.
The NHC also warned of one
or two tornadoes Monday night
on the middle and upper coast of this state.
[Biden visits areas of New York and New Jersey hit by Hurricane Ida: "We are going to deal with climate change"]
In Mexico, torrential rains are forecast in Chiapas, Oaxaca, Tabasco, Tamaulipas and Veracruz;
very strong in Puebla and Morelos, and strong in Campeche, Mexico City, State of Mexico, Hidalgo, Jalisco, Michoacán, Nuevo León, San Luis Potosí and Tlaxcala.
With information from AP.
