Tropical Storm Nicholas Forms; Texas Placed on Hurricane Watch

Part of the Texas Coast has been placed on a hurricane watch as Tropical Storm Nicholas forms over the Gulf of Mexico.

The National Hurricane Center expects the storm to gain strength with peak sustained winds of 65mph on Monday. The center also expects the storm’s center to be located over the Gulf of Mexico and east of southern Texas.

The watch extends from Port Aransas to Sargent, CNN reported.

“Although not explicitly shown in the intensity forecast, Nicholas could approach hurricane strength when it nears the northwest Gulf Coast, especially if it moves to the right of the NHC forecast track and spends more time over water,” the National Hurricane Center said.

A hurricane watch warns Texas that there could be hurricane conditions (sustained winds of at least 74 mph) that are possible within 48 hours of the watch being issued.

Tropical storm Nicholas is the Atlantic hurricane season’s 14th named storm, which formed in the Gulf of Mexico earlier Sunday.
A tropical storm warning is in effect from the mouth of the Rio Grande to Port Aransas in Texas, with expected winds of 39 mph within 36 hours.
A storm surge warning has also been issued for the state, which means possible dangerous, life-threatening storm surge that is expected within 36 hours.

“With the exact track 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.