WWL-TV Chief Meteorologist talks about the impact of heavy rain from Tropical Storm Nicholas in areas that were impacted by Hurricane Ida.
Tropical Storm Nicholas
As of Monday afternoon, Tropical Storm Nicholas had winds of 60 mph. The storm's center reformed farther north thanks to southwesterly wind shear. However, this doesn't change the forecast for the area.
Nicholas is set to move into Texas late Monday and early Tuesday as a strong tropical storm or perhaps even a low-end hurricane. Landfall is forecast to be between Corpus Christi and Houston.
What is steering Nicholas?
The storm will first be steered by a ridge of high pressure over the southeast US. That will keep its path west toward Texas in the next couple of days. Once inland, the weakening storm will slow down as the high pressure retreats and the steering pattern becomes weaker. It is expected to crawl over east Texas Wednesday and Thursday between two weak areas of high pressure.
While it's over warm waters in the extreme western Gulf, it should be able to strengthen. However, there is some southwesterly shear that should limit its intensification. If it reaches the coast of Texas or north Mexico sooner, that would also cause it to weaken.
