Storm just misses Corpus Christi area
After strong, 50-mph wind gusts in Corpus Christi and whitecaps in the Gulf outside of Port Aransas, Tropical Storm Nicholas passed without serious damage. Upgraded to hurricane status at about 10 p.m. Monday, Sept. 13, the storm headed north to the Houston area and made landfall at around 1 a.m. near Sargent, just north of East Matagorda Bay.
A tropical storm is a hurricane when winds reach over 74 mph. After Nicholas made landfall, it weakened to a tropical storm.
In the Coastal Bend, Beach Access Road 4 will reopen by 10 a.m. The beaches remained open as the storm approached. Storm surge and rain bands will continue through the mid-morning.
Just in time for storm preparedness is the testing of the new emergency generators serving the Nueces County Courthouse and Jail Complex. Testing will proceed as scheduled Tuesday, Sept. 14, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The courthouse and jail will have restricted access, and in-person services will be unavailable during testing.
While damage in Nueces County appears minimal, residents are urged to document and report damage to the Texas Department of Emergency Management using the state of Texas Assessment Tool (iSTAT) Damage Surveys. This helps emergency management officials understand damages during natural disasters.
Reporting damage to emergency management is voluntary, does not substitute for insurance reporting, and does not guarantee disaster relief assistance.
September is typically the most active month of hurricane season, which runs from mid-May through the end of November. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration scientists predict that the likelihood of an above-normal 2021 Atlantic hurricane season is 65 percent.
Residents are advised to monitor weather developments and stay tuned to local media for developments and advisories.
