HOUSTON — Nicholas gained strength and was upgraded to a Category 1 hurricane prior to hitting Texas.

Hurricane #Nicholas Advisory 8: Nicholas Becomes a Hurricane. Bringing Heavy Rains, Strong Winds, and Storm Surges to Portions Of the Central and Upper Texas Coasts. https://t.co/VqHn0u1vgc

— National Hurricane Center (@NHC_Atlantic) September 14, 2021

Hurricane Nicholas had sustained winds of 75 mph.

Forecasters say it could bring up to 20 inches of rain to parts of the Gulf Coast. The National Weather Service says Nicholas could also produce tornadoes along coastal areas.

The storm is likely to strike the same area hit by Hurricane Harvey in 2017 and storm-battered Louisiana.

Although the system is expected to generate only a fraction as much rain as Harvey, nearly all of the state’s coastline was under a tropical storm warning that included potential flash floods and urban flooding.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott says authorities placed rescue teams and resources in the Houston area and along the coast.

Nicholas is the 6th hurricane of the season.