Live Updates: Tropical Storm Nicholas Leaves Over 500,000 Without Power, Severe Flooding Expected

Some Louisiana Testing, Vaccination Sites to Close in Anticipation of Nicholas Rainfall

National Guard COVID-19 testing and vaccination services in the greater Lake Charles area of Louisiana will close Tuesday and Wednesday as the state prepares for heavy rainfall from Tropical Storm Nicholas, said Dr. John Kanter of the Louisiana Department of Health.

Additional sites outside the area may also close, but that will depend on whether weather conditions deteriorate further, Kanter said.

Offices in 38 Louisiana Parishes Will Close Wednesday, Edwards Says

Offices in 38 Louisiana parishes will be closed Wednesday as the state is expected to see heavy rains from Tropical Storm Nicholas, Gov. John Bel Edwards said.

The 38 parish offices are a combination of ones already closed from Hurricane Ida and those closing in anticipation of adverse weather from the tropical storm.

The governor warned people to avoid traveling or leaving the home due to threats of flash flooding from the storm, noting that deaths from Hurricane Ida are still being reported.

Louisiana Tracking More Than 13K Power Outages from Nicholas, Edwards Says

Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards said Tuesday that the state was tracking around 13,500 power outages in relation to Tropical Storm Nicholas. The new outages are an addition to the approximately 95,000 outages caused by Hurricane Ida that have yet to be fixed.

Edwards said that the Nicholas-related outages were primarily in areas where power had already been restored after Ida.

Heaviest Nicholas Rain in Louisiana Expected in Areas Hit Hardest by Ida, Edwards Says

As Louisiana anticipates seeing heavy rainfall from Tropical Storm Nicholas, Gov. John Bel Edwards said that the heaviest rain is expected in southeast areas of the state that were "most devastated" by Hurricane Ida.

"That's particularly challenging because many individuals live in homes that have not yet been repaired and not yet really even been temporarily repaired to the point where they can withstand rain," Edwards said.

Many homes in the area have not had their power restored, which could now be pushed back further because of Tropical Storm Nicholas, Edwards said. Some homes and businesses that have had their power restored could lose power again from the incoming storm, he added.

Satellite Loop Shows Tropical Storm Nicholas as It Moves Along Texas Coast

The below video shared by the New Orleans branch of the National Weather Service shows Tropical Storm Nicholas as it travels along the Texas coast.

Parts of Louisiana, Florida, Alabama and Mississippi are also experiencing or will experience effects of the storm, according to the National Hurricane Center.

Special Marine Warnings Issued for Chandeleur, Mississippi Sounds, Plus Lake Borgne

The New Orleans branch of the National Weather Service announced that special marine warnings were issued for areas including the Chandeleur Sound, Mississippi Sound and Lake Borgne in Louisiana through 4 p.m. ET.

The warnings cautioned of steep waves, observed waterspouts and winds up to 34 knots, or a little over 39 mph.

Special marine warnings were also issued for Lakes Pontchartrain and Maurepas in Louisiana in anticipation of Tropical Storm Nicholas.

St. Charles Parish Warns Residents to Clear Debris in Anticipation of Nicholas

St. Charles Parish, one of the Louisiana areas hit by Hurricane Ida, reminded residents to make sure drainage systems like ditches and catch basins were clear of debris as the state prepares to see heavy rainfall from Tropical Storm Nicholas.

The state is still recovering from Ida's onslaught more than two weeks after it made landfall in the U.S. Between five and 10 inches of rain are expected to fall on certain parts of Louisiana as the Nicholas makes its way across the south.

Southern Louisiana could see storm totals of 20 inches, a National Hurricane Center advisory said.

Second Storm Formation Being Monitored in Atlantic

As Tropical Storm Nicholas continues to sweep through the southern U.S., the Weather Channel said it is watching a separate formation in the Atlantic Ocean.

Currently located east of the Bahamas, the system would be named Odette if it strengthens into a tropical storm and would add to the growing list of 14 named storms so far in the Atlantic hurricane season.

Nicholas Could Rain Additional 5 to 10 Inches Across Areas of U.S. South

After Tropical Storm Nicholas caused mass power outages and flooding across parts of Texas Tuesday, the storm is expected to rain another five to 10 inches in parts of Louisiana, Mississippi, Texas, Alabama and Florida, according to the latest advisory from the National Hurricane Center.

"Life-threatening" flash flooding, especially in urban areas, may be seen in the regions anticipated to be affected by the storm. Southern Louisiana could also see storm totals of 20 inches, the advisory said.

Houston Health Department Opens Service Centers in Nicholas Aftermath

The Houston Health Department opened four service centers Tuesday where city residents still without power form Hurricane Nicholas could access charging stations. The sites were scheduled to remain open from noon to 5 p.m.

Nearly 80,000 customers were reported to be without power in Harris County, where Houston is located, according to poweroutage.us.

Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards to Hold Media Briefing Tuesday Afternoon on Tropical Storm Nicholas

Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards will hold a media briefing Tuesday afternoon as the state braces for potential heavy rainfall and flooding from Tropical Storm Nicholas.

The briefing will also focus on the state's continued recovery efforts from Hurricane Ida.

The briefing is scheduled to begin at 4:30 p.m. ET, and can be viewed on the governor's Facebook page or website.

Pictures Show Aftereffects of Nicholas in Texas Cities

This picture taken in Galveston, Texas, Tuesday shows a street flooded and a sign felled after Tropical Storm Nicholas swept through the area. An advisory from the National Hurricane Center warned that areas anticipating adverse weather from the storm could see "life-threatening" flash floods over the next couple days.

After Tropical Storm Nicholas moved across Houston and the Houston area, a carport was left hanging from power lines. Power workers have restored power to about 100,000 customers in Texas since the storm caused mass outages Tuesday morning, but more than 400,000 are still without power, according to poweroutage.us.

Special Marine Warnings Issued for Lakes Pontchartrain, Maurepas

Special marine warnings were issued for Louisiana Lakes Pontchartrain and Maurepas in anticipation of Tropical Storm Nicholas.

The warnings reference possible waterspouts and wind speeds greater than 34 knots, or a little over 39 mph. The warnings also cautioned that the lakes could see steep waves.

Colonial Pipeline Halted Most Fuel Shipments from Texas After Nicholas

The Colonial Pipeline stopped most of its fuel shipments from Texas to the East Coast Tuesday due to power outages caused by then-Hurricane Nicholas, Bloomberg reported.

The hurricane caused more than 500,000 power outages in Texas Tuesday, which power companies are in progress of restoring. Colonial Pipeline Co. said in a statement, cited by Bloomberg, that shipments were halted as a "temporary and precautionary measure."

Texas Power Restorations in Progress, Down to About 450,000 Without Power in State

Power restorations are in progress in Texas after Tropical Storm Nicholas caused mass outages in affected areas.

More than 500,000 people in the state were initially without power Tuesday, according to poweroutage.us. As of 12:15 p.m. ET, a little more than 450,000 were without power.

Nicholas Impact on Houston 'Not as Bad as First Predicted,' Mayor's Office Says

Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner's office said in a tweet Tuesday morning that the damage caused by now-Tropical Storm Nicholas was "not as bad as first predicted."

The mayor's office acknowledged that many lost power from the weather's impact, but considered the failure of Nicholas to cause as much damage as expected a "big blessing."

"We are working on cleaning debris & restoring to normal operations as soon as possible," the tweet said.

Heavy Rainfall in Louisiana from Nicholas Could Complicate Ida Recovery

As Louisiana anticipates seeing potentially heavy rainfall and potentially life-threatening flash flooding from Tropical Storm Nicholas, Louisiana is still attempting to recover in the wake of Hurricane Ida's devastating damage.

While New Orleans had seen success in power restorations, tens of thousands of customers outside the city are still waiting to have their electricity turned back on. Many others who saw their homes damaged or even destroyed during the hurricane are now faced with additional severe weather from Nicholas, though the storm is projected to weaken into a tropical depression by Tuesday night.

Tropical storm conditions are expected along the Louisiana coast through Tuesday afternoon, and the southern part of the state could potentially see one or two tornados into Tuesday night, the National Hurricane Center said.

President Joe Biden on Monday approved an emergency declaration from Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards, which mobilizes federal resources to aid preparatory and recovery efforts for Nicholas.

Nicholas Expected to Weaken to Tropical Depression by Tuesday Evening

Tropical Storm Nicholas is expected to weaken to a tropical depression by Tuesday evening as part of a continued decline since the named storm made landfall in Texas as a Category 1 hurricane.

As a hurricane, Nicholas sustained maximum winds of 75 mph with higher gusts. As of an 11 a.m. ET advisory from the National Hurricane Center, the tropical storm's maximum winds were 45 mph.

The storm's pace of movement also slowed since the last advisory released at 8 a.m., when it was traveling at about 8 mph. Nicholas is now moving northeast at about 6 mph, the 11 a.m. advisory said. A continued decrease in speed should continue over the next couple days, and little storm motion is expected on Thursday.

Certain Weather Warnings Lifted in Texas, Louisiana

A tropical storm warning was discontinued west of High Island, Texas, and a storm surge warning was discontinued south of Port Bolivar in the state, according to an 11 a.m. ET advisory on Tropical Storm Nicholas from the National Hurricane Center. A storm surge watch was also discontinued east of Cameron, Louisiana.

A storm surge warning is still in effect for Port Bolivar to Sabine Pass, which includes Galveston Bay. A tropical storm warning is in place for High Island, Texas, to Cameron, while a storm surge watch is in place for Sabine Pass to Cameron.

The storm was moving slowly across the Houston Metropolitan Area at the time of the advisory and tropical storm-force winds extended outward up to 140 miles, mainly over water.