Nicholas strengthens into hurricane, will hit Texas overnight

Debris from palm trees blow down the street as winds pick up as Tropical Storm Nicholas approaches on Monday, Sept. 13, 2021, at Palacios, Texas.

People's hair blows in the wind ahead of Tropical Storm Nicholas, Monday, Sept. 13, 2021, on the North Packery Channel Jetty in Corpus Christi, Texas. Winds are expected to be as high as 60 mph, according to the National Weather Service.

A surfer tries to paddle through the surf as wind and rain from Tropical Storm Nicholas batters the area Monday, Sept. 13, 2021, along the seawall in Galveston, Texas.

Paul Villagomez secures filled gas containers in his truck as he prepares for Tropical Storm Nicholas, Monday, Sept. 13, 2021, in Kingwood, Texas. "I'm just trying to be prepared," Villagomez said. "I'm actually surprised there aren't more people filling up."

Cheri Daigle, una profesora jubilada, toma una fotografía mientras el huracán Nicholas se acerca a la costa de Texas, el lunes 13 de septiembre de 2021, en Galveston, Texas.

Surfers are seen ahead of Tropical Storm Nicholas, Monday, Sept. 13, 2021, at JP Luby beach in Corpus Christi, Texas. The storm is expected to make landfall Monday night.

Galveston Park Board of Trustees staff secure lifeguard towers to a trailer as they are removed from the beach in Galveston, Texas on Sunday, Sept. 12, 2021, ahead of Tropical Storm Nicholas. Nicholas is strengthening just off the Gulf Coast and could blow ashore in Texas as a hurricane as it brings heavy rain and floods to coastal areas from Mexico to storm-battered Louisiana.

A Houston Police Department employee works at the city's emergency operations center as Tropical Storm Nicholas moves towards the Texas coast Monday, Sept. 13, 2021, in Houston.

A Dairy Queen in Bay City, Texas, stays open as customers try to get in a meal before it closes as Tropical Storm Nicholas approaches on Monday, Sept. 13, 2021.

A person looks at the incoming storm surge at McGee Beach ahead of Tropical Storm Nicholas, Monday, Sept. 13, 2021, in Corpus Christi, Texas. A storm surge warning is in effect for Corpus Christi for the next couple of days.

Frank Rivera, right, and his friend Jaime Ybarra watch the wind and waves as Tropical Storm Nicholas heads toward the Texas coast Monday, Sept. 13, 2021, along the seawall in Galveston, Texas. The pair said they were born and raised in Houston, and they wanted to use the opportunity to fish ahead of the advancing storm.

Suzanne Talasek watches the weather update while enjoying a beverage at Pluggers as Tropical Storm Nicholas approaches in Matagorda, Texas, on Monday, Sept. 13, 2021.

The generator section is seen cleared out at Home Depot as people prepare for Tropical Storm Nicholas, Monday, Sept. 13, 2021, in Houston.

A woman watches her friends swim as Tropical Storm Nicholas approaches the Texas coast Monday, Sept. 13, 2021, along the seawall in Galveston, Texas.

A local gets some provisions from Salty Dog in Matagorda, Texas as Tropical Storm Nicholas approaches on Monday, Sept. 13, 2021.

Waves are seen ahead of Tropical Storm Nicholas, Monday, Sept. 13, 2021, in the Gulf of Mexico in Corpus Christi, Texas. The storm is expected to bring heavy rainfall, high winds and coastal flooding to South Texas and Louisiana coasts over the next few days.

Holly Hopkins, bottom, owner of MOD Coffeehouse, and Carter Fowler put up a water barrier at the downtown Galveston, Texas, coffee shop in preparation of Tropical Storm Nicholas, Monday, Sept. 13, 2021.

Jaime Ybarra, right, and his friend Frank Rivera watch their lines as they fish as Tropical Storm Nicholas moves toward the Texas coast Monday, Sept. 13, 2021, along the seawall in Galveston, Texas.

A typically busy stretch of Main St. near the Texas Medical Center is nearly empty as residents hunker down to await the winds and rain of Tropical Storm Nicholas, Monday, Sept. 13, 2021, in Houston, Texas.

Palm trees blow in the wind ahead of Tropical Storm Nicholas, Monday, Sept. 13, 2021, in Corpus Christi, Texas. Some areas can experience winds as high as 65 mph.

Cheri Daigle, a retired teache, takes a photo as Tropical Storm Nicholas approaches the Texas coast Monday, Sept. 13, 2021, along the seawall in Galveston, Texas.

Cyclist make their way down a street in Bay City, Texas as Tropical Storm Nicholas approaches on Monday, Sept. 13, 2021.

A person rides their bike down Ocean Drive ahead of Tropical Storm Nicholas, Monday, Sept. 13, 2021, in Corpus Christi, Texas. Winds are expected to be as high as 65 mph.

People shield their faces from wind and sand ahead of Tropical Storm Nicholas, Monday, Sept. 13, 2021, on the North Packery Channel Jetty in Corpus Christi, Texas. Lifeguards paroled the beach to warn people of the upcoming conditions.

Palacios Corporal Marshall Johnson takes a call as he surveys early damage as Tropical Storm Nicholas approaches on Monday, Sept. 13, 2021, in Matagorda, Texas.

Frank Rivera streams a Facebook live as he fishes with a friend, while Tropical Storm Nicholas heads towards the Texas coast, Monday, Sept. 13, 2021, along the seawall in Galveston, Texas.

A dwindling inventory of flashlights are seen on display at the front of Home Depot for guests to prepare for Tropical Storm Nicholas, Monday, Sept. 13, 2021, in Houston.

Jose Magia buys a generator for home and work at Home Depot to prepare for Tropical Storm Nicholas, Monday, Sept. 13, 2021, in Houston.

John Pittman, a nurse who works in emergency medicine, fishes to decompress as Tropical Storm Nicholas heads toward the Texas coast, Monday, Sept. 13, 2021, along the seawall in Galveston, Texas.

Workers remove banners from a post in front of Landry's Seafood House in Galveston, Texas, Monday, Sept. 13, 2021, as residents and business prepare for Tropical Storm Nicholas.

Galveston, Texas, emergency management chief Mark Morgan watches a weather update as he listens to a conference call with Houston officials as the region prepares for Tropical Storm Nicholas, Monday, Sept. 13, 2021.

The generator section is seen cleared out at Home Depot as people prepare for Tropical Storm Nicholas, Monday, Sept. 13, 2021, in Houston.