The storm is expected to inundate the region with 6 to 12 inches of rain and isolated totals of 18 inches as it sweeps northeast across the Gulf Coast. Over 6.5 million people are under flash flood watches that extend from Texas to the Florida Panhandle.
Nicholas came ashore near the eastern part of the Matagorda Peninsula, about 10 miles west-southwest of Sargent Beach, Texas, at about 1:30 a.m. ET Tuesday, packing 75 mph winds. Hours since landfall, Nicholas has weakened to a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 60 mph.
The storm by midmorning Tuesday had left about 503,000 customers without power in Texas, according to PowerOutage.US.