Hurricane Nicholas

Last updated
Map key
  Tropical depression (≤38 mph, ≤62 km/h)
  Tropical storm (39–73 mph, 63–118 km/h)
  Category 1 (74–95 mph, 119–153 km/h)
  Category 2 (96–110 mph, 154–177 km/h)
  Category 3 (111–129 mph, 178–208 km/h)
  Category 4 (130–156 mph, 209–251 km/h)
  Category 5 (≥157 mph, ≥252 km/h)
  Unknown
Storm type
Disc Plain black.svg Tropical cyclone
Solid black.svg Subtropical cyclone
ArrowUp.svg Extratropical cyclone, remnant low, tropical disturbance, or monsoon depression

On August 28, a tropical wave moved off the west coast of Africa. [1] It moved steadily westward over the next week, producing only disorganized convection before moving into and through the Caribbean Sea. At 06:00 UTC on September 9, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) began to monitor the northern portion the tropical wave over the western Caribbean Sea for potential development as it moved across northern Central America and the Yucatán Peninsula toward the Bay of Campeche. [2] By the next day, the wave began to interact with a surface trough over the southern Gulf of Mexico, producing widespread but disorganized showers and thunderstorms across the region. [3] Showers and thunderstorms associated with this system increased and become better organized on September 12, and its top sustained winds reached 40 mph (65 km/h) (tropical storm-force), as confirmed by an Air Force hurricane-hunter flight that morning. [4] As a result, advisories were initiated at 15:00 UTC on Tropical Storm Nicholas. [5]

The tropical wave that would become Nicholas shortly before forming on September 12. 2021 CIMSS 14L Fourteen visible infrared satellite loop.gif
The tropical wave that would become Nicholas shortly before forming on September 12.

After forming, the storm was found to be not very organized, as it lacked convective banding features. The center was also not well defined. [6] After satellite imagery from radar and aircraft, it was found that the center had re-formed 150 nautical miles more north than expected and the storm had gained speed. [7] The storm entered the southern part of a large area of deep convection, as signs of an eyewall structure forming were beginning to become prominent. [8] The eyewall structure then dissipated and a new center began forming north-northeast of the previous. [9] The storm then underwent a period of rapid intensification, the fifth hurricane of the season to do so, after intensifying by 35 mph (55 km/h) in a 24-hour period. [10] Consequently, at 03:00 UTC on September 14, the system was upgraded to a Category 1 hurricane. [11] Shortly thereafter, at 05:30 UTC, Nicholas made landfall about 10 mi (16 km) west-southwest of Sargent Beach, Texas, with maximum sustained winds of 75 mph (121 km/h). [10] [12] It then quickly weakened inland to tropical storm strength, as it moved to near Galveston Bay. [13] Nicholas was downgraded to tropical depression status at 00:00 UTC on September 15, [14] as it moved slowly into southern Louisiana, where residents were still recovering in the aftermath of Hurricane Ida. [15] At the time, the system consisted of a large swirl of low- to mid-level clouds and showers, with a few patches of deep convection well removed from the center, according to the NHC. [16] Early the following day, while situated near Marsh Island, along the Louisiana coast, Nicholas became post-tropical. [17] [18] Nicholas's remnant low later moved further inland, stalling over northern Louisiana, [19] [20] [21] before its low-level circulation center became ill-defined on September 18. [1] The storm's remnants persisted for another few days, before they were absorbed into an extratropical storm to the north on September 20. [1] The system's residual tropical moisture lingered over parts of the southeastern U.S. for several days. [22] [23] [24]

Preparations

Nicholas nearing the coast of Texas on September 13. Nicholas 2021-09-13 1945Z.jpg
Nicholas nearing the coast of Texas on September 13.

When Tropical Storm Nicholas formed, tropical storm warnings were issued along the coast from Barra El Mezquital and north to Port Aransas, Texas. Additionally, tropical storm watches were called from Port Aransas to High Island, Texas. As Nicholas neared landfall, tropical storm alerts were issued for the entire Texas coast. The first hurricane warning was issued from Port O'Connor to Freeport, Texas at 03:00 UTC, when the storm was upgraded to a Category 1 hurricane. [11] Flood watches were also issued in southern and central Louisiana when Nicholas slowed its forward speed to 5 miles per hour (8.0 km/h). [25] In addition to flood watches, the Weather Prediction Center issued a rare 50 percent high-risk flooding area for southwestern Louisiana. [26]

Rainfall estimate totals were 8 to 16 inches (200 to 410 mm), with some locations potentially receiving 15 inches (380 mm). Coastal Louisiana, which was battered by Hurricane Ida just weeks earlier, was estimated to receive 5 to 10 inches (130 to 250 mm). Lake Houston was lowered by one foot (30 cm). [27] Schools in southern Texas and Louisiana were suspended on September 13. [28] [29] [30] At least 330 flights originating from William P. Hobby Airport and George Bush Intercontinental Airport were cancelled. [31] In Harris County, COVID-19 testing sites were closed. [32] Late on September 13, ferry service between Galveston and the Bolivar Peninsula were suspended. Service resumed the next day. [33]

Governor of Louisiana, John Bel Edwards, declared a state of emergency and noted that areas affected by Hurricane Ida would possibly feel the effects of the tropical storm. [34] Edwards also requested a federal disaster declaration, which was approved by President Joe Biden on September 14. [32] [35] The Governor of Texas, Greg Abbott, issued a disaster declaration for 17 counties in southeastern Texas and ordered the State Operations Center to increase its readiness level. [36] The Louisiana National Guard deployed 80 high water vehicles, 23 boats and 15 aircraft across southern Louisiana. [31] On September 13, before the storm hit, singer-songwriter Harry Styles postponed his performance in Houston. [37] Dozens of barriers were constructed in Houston and readied high-water rescue vehicles. [38] The American Red Cross in the Texas Gulf Coast area prepared as Nicholas moved closer to landfall. [39]

Impact and aftermath

Losses in the United States ranged from $1.1 to $2.2 billion, according to an estimate by Risk Management (RMS). RMS estimated losses to the National Flood Insurance Program to be between $200 million and $500 million. Karen Clark & Co. estimated damage around $950 million. [40]

Texas

Coastal flooding in from Dickinson Bayou in Texas City, Texas after Nicholas Hurricane Nicholas coastal flooding.jpg
Coastal flooding in from Dickinson Bayou in Texas City, Texas after Nicholas

The storm left at least 503,000 without power in Texas, mostly in the Houston area. [31] [32] An estimated 33 percent of Galveston County residents were without power. Portions of the Strand Historic District in Galveston were left underwater. [33] The Colonial Pipeline shut down two pipelines from Houston to North Carolina due to power outages. This shutdown occurred just two weeks after the same pipelines were shut down due to Hurricane Ida. [41] In Seabrook, officials estimated that 30 homes sustained wind or flood damage. The Pine Gully fishing pier in the Pine Gully Park was destroyed by storm surge. City officials promised to work with the Federal Emergency Management Agency to rebuild the pier. [42]

Deer Park, Texas recorded 9.83 inches (250 mm) of rain, while Beaumont, Texas recorded around 7 inches (180 mm), and Houston saw over 6 inches (150 mm). [43] [44] [45] Storm surge in Port O'Connor was reported to be near 4 feet. [32] A gas station had its roof blown off in Matagorda. [32] Several roadways were closed due to flooding and debris, including a section of I-10 and Texas State Highway 225. [46] Several highways in and near Clear Lake, League City, and Friendswood were inundated, including several lanes of Interstate 45. [47] No injuries or deaths were reported due to the storm in Texas. [33] In Pearland, 21 percent of the city was without power. [48] Flash flood warnings were issued in Pasadena, League City, and Baytown. [39]

Louisiana

The storm left at least 120,000 without power in Louisiana. [12] Around 87,000 residents were still without power from Hurricane Ida when Nicholas made landfall. [32] In the early morning hours of September 14, heavy rains had reached New Orleans and flood warnings were issued in the New Orleans area. [49]

Elsewhere

The remnants of Nicholas contributed to two reported direct deaths that occurred in Alabama due to freshwater flooding. One was when a 40-year-old man was swept away in floodwaters in Tuscaloosa, and the other in Hazel Green when a 35-year-old man was pulled into a drainage pipe. [1]

In Florida, two indirect deaths occurred due to rip currents from the storm's remnants in Panama City Beach where two males were swept out to sea. Additionally, a 60-year-old man was hospitalized in critical condition on 17 September as a result of the rip currents. [1]

See also

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hurricane Delta</span> Category 4 Atlantic hurricane in 2020

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hurricane Zeta</span> Category 3 Atlantic hurricane in 2020

Hurricane Zeta was a late-season major hurricane in 2020 that made landfall on the Yucatán Peninsula and then in southeastern Louisiana, the latest on record to do so at such strength in the United States. Zeta was the record-tying sixth hurricane of the year to make landfall in the United States. The twenty-seventh named storm, twelfth hurricane and fifth major hurricane of the extremely active 2020 Atlantic hurricane season, Zeta formed from a broad area of low pressure that formed in the western Caribbean Sea on October 19. After battling wind shear, the quasi-stationary low organized into Tropical Depression Twenty-Eight on October 24. The system strengthened into Tropical Storm Zeta early on October 25 before becoming a hurricane the next day as it began to move northwestward. Hurricane Zeta made landfall on the Yucatán Peninsula late on October 26 and weakened while inland to a tropical storm, before moving off the northern coast of the peninsula on October 27. After weakening due to dry air entrainment, Zeta reorganized and became a hurricane again, and eventually a Category 2 hurricane, as it turned northeastward approaching the United States Gulf Coast on October 28. It continued to strengthen until it reached its peak intensity as a major Category 3 hurricane with 115-mile-per-hour (185 km/h) sustained winds and a minimum pressure of 970 mbar (28.64 inHg) as it made landfall at Cocodrie, Louisiana, that evening. Zeta continued on through Mississippi and parts of Alabama with hurricane-force winds. Zeta gradually weakened as it accelerated northeastward, and became post-tropical on October 29, as it moved through central Virginia, dissipating shortly afterwards off the coast of New Jersey. After bringing accumulating snow to parts of New England, the extratropical low-pressure system carrying Zeta's remnant energy impacted the United Kingdom on November 1 and 2.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hurricane Grace</span> Category 3 Atlantic hurricane in 2021

Hurricane Grace was the strongest tropical cyclone to make landfall in the Mexican state of Veracruz. Grace impacted much of the Leeward Islands and Greater Antilles as a tropical storm, before causing more substantial impacts in the Yucatán Peninsula and Veracruz as a hurricane. It was the seventh named storm, second hurricane, and first major hurricane of the 2021 Atlantic hurricane season. Originating from a tropical wave in the Main Development Region, the primitive system tracked west-northwest across the Atlantic Ocean towards the Antilles, becoming a tropical depression on August 14. It strengthened into Tropical Storm Grace later the same day, but weakened back to a depression due to an unfavorable environment. After moving near Haiti as a tropical depression, it strengthened back to a tropical storm and became a hurricane on August 18, reaching an initial peak intensity with maximum sustained winds of 80 mph (130 km/h) and a pressure of 986 mbar (29.12 inHg). It weakened back to a tropical storm after its landfall in the Yucatán Peninsula and emerged into the Bay of Campeche, entering a very favorable environment for intensification hours later. Grace then rapidly intensified into a Category 3 hurricane with winds of 120 mph (190 km/h) in about 24 hours. The storm made its final landfall in the state of Veracruz at peak intensity and quickly degenerated into a remnant low over mainland Mexico on August 21; however, its remnants later regenerated into Tropical Storm Marty in the Eastern Pacific on August 23.

References

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Hurricane Nicholas
Nicholas 2021-09-14 0404Z.png
Hurricane Nicholas at peak intensity just before landfall in Texas early on September 14