On Sunday, Tropical Storm Nicholas formed in the southern Gulf of Mexico, threatening Mexico and Texas with torrential rain.

Nicholas was about 170 miles east-southeast of La Pesca, Mexico, and 260 miles south-southeast of the Rio Grande mouth, according to the National Hurricane Center's 10 p.m. CDT report.

It was moving north at 2 miles per hour, with maximum sustained winds of 40 miles per hour.

A hurricane watch was in place from Port Aransas to Free Port, Texas, while a tropical storm warning was issued from the Rio Grande's mouth to High Island, Texas, and from Barra el Mezquital to the US-Mexico border.

East of High Island, Texas, to Sabine Pass, a tropical storm watch was in force.

Port Aransas to San Luis Pass, Texas, and Aransas Bay, San Antonio Bay, and Matagorda Bay, were all under a storm surge warning.

The mouth of the Rio Grande to Port Aransas, Texas; San Luis Pass, Texas, to Rutherford Beach, La., including Galveston Bay; and the Baffin Bay and Corpus Christi Bay were all under a storm surge watch.

Nicholas was expected to move northward at a faster pace. It is predicted to change course and track north-northeastward near the Texas coast by late Monday.

"On Monday, the center of Nicholas will pass near or just offshore the coasts of northeastern Mexico and South Texas," according to the National Hurricane Center. "On Monday night or early Tuesday, the center of Nicholas will move onshore along the coast of the south or central Texas," the NHC stated.

Nicholas is anticipated to dump 5-10 inches of rain in coastal Texas and southwest Louisiana, with isolated amounts of 15 inches in coastal Texas and southwest Louisiana and 2-5 inches in eastern Tamaulipas, Mexico.