PROJECT ALERT NOTICE (TX) USGS Crews Respond to Tropical Storm Nicholas

Date: Tue, 14 Sep 2021 14:41:08 EDT

Summary: USGS flood activities include field operations by four crews (two people in each crew) making discharge measurements, inspecting streamgages, and collecting water-quality samples with most localized flooding occurring along the Texas coast due to storm surge with two-day rainfall amounts approaching 6-8 inches or greater in isolated areas.

The National Weather Service reported that Nicholas strengthened abruptly around 10 pm (September 13th) and produced winds of 68 mph with gusts over 90 mph near the town of Matagorda, TX. The main threats were very heavy rainfall over the coastal counties and winds of 40-65 mph over the coastal counties. Storm surge along the coast was approximately 3-5 feet near landfall. Low lying surge flood prone roads were impacted as high tide and strengthening winds arrived. In Texas, wind damage has caused approximately 390,000 people to be without power as of noon September 14th, 2021 (https://poweroutage.us/area/state/texas).

No USGS Texas stream gages are above National Weather Service action or flood stages but streamflow measurements are being made to verify river flows. A damage assessment of coastal gages will commence as conditions permit.

Results of discharge measurements are being provided to the National Weather Service, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and other state and local partners.