More than 400,000 without power in Houston following Tropical Storm Nicholas

Authorities in Houston recommended staying indoors as the heavy winds reportedly knocked down tree limbs and power lines throughout the area, according to the Houston Office of Emergency Management.

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Residents near the coast in Surfside experienced storm surges and powerful currents that flooded the land around homes and structures. Galveston received almost 14 inches of rain just before 5 a.m., according to the National Weather Service.

Harris County Flood Control District Meteorologist Jeff Lindner tweeted that storm surges appeared to peak near the mouth of Clear Lake at 6.1 feet.

At approximately 5:10 a.m., the Category 1 hurricane was downgraded to a tropical storm. “Weakening is expected during the next couple of days as Nicholas moves over land,” the NWS advisory said.

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The National Hurricane Center published at 4 a.m. CDT that heavy rainfall would continue to affect areas including the upper coast of Texas, all of Louisiana, Southern Mississippi, and far southern Alabama through the middle of the week.