Louisiana declares state of emergency as Tropical Storm Nicholas targets battered region
Louisiana is under a state of emergency as Tropical Storm Nicholas targets the storm-battered region, threatening to bring several feet of water this week.
Gov. John Bel Edwards declared a state of emergency Sunday evening and urged Louisiana residents to "take necessary measures to protect their home or business from additional harm." He noted the areas most impacted by Hurricane Ida, which made landfall in the state just two weeks ago, would likely feel impacts from Nicholas.
More than 130,000 residents were still without power due to Ida, Edwards said. The storm killed 26 people in the state and more than 45 others in the northeast.
The National Hurricane Center said Sunday evening the storm was about 260 miles south-southeast of the mouth of the Rio Grande.
The storm was forecasted to skim the Gulf Coast of Texas Monday afternoon then swing north-northeast through the state toward Louisiana later in the week, according to the National Hurricane Center. Its maximum sustained winds were clocked at 40 mph and it was moving north-northwest at 15 mph. Gradual strengthening is forecast in the next day or so.
Forecasters at the NHC in Miami said a hurricane watch and storm surge warning were issued for a portion of Texas, while tropical storm warnings were issued for coastal areas of Texas. Nicholas is expected to produce total rainfall of 8 to 16 inches, with isolated maximum amounts of 20 inches, across portions of coastal Texas into southwest Louisiana on Sunday through midweek.
The National Weather Service in New Orleans, an area still recovering from Ida, said there was potential for coastal flooding of up to 3 feet above normal conditions across Terrebonne Parish and up to 2 feet from Port Fourchon to the Mississippi River. The weather service also warned of possible flash floods.
A hurricane watch was in effect for the coast of Texas from Port Aransas to Sargent.
Ida severely impacted parts of Louisiana and Mississippi before delivering torrential rains to the Northeast. More than 80 people died across the country as a result of the storm.
More on Tropical Storm Nicholas:USA TODAY storm tracker
In advance of Nicholas, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott announced he has dispatched emergency services along the state's coast.
"We will continue to closely monitor this storm and take all necessary precautions to keep Texans safe. I encourage Texans to follow the guidance and warnings of their local officials and be mindful of potential heavy rain and flooding," he said in a statement.
The storm is projected to move slowly up the coastland which could dump torrential amounts of rain over several days, said meteorologist Donald Jones of the National Weather Service in Lake Charles, La.
“Heavy rain, flash flooding appears to be the biggest threat across our region,” he said in an email.
Only four other years since 1966 have had 14 or more named storms by Sept. 12: 2005, 2011, 2012 and 2020.
University of Miami hurricane researcher Brian McNoldy said the season's 14th named storm is about two months ahead of historical expectations.
Contributing: The Associated Press
Follow Jordan Mendoza on Twitter: @jordan_mendoza5.
