All Calcasieu Parish public schools  — as well as the charter schools and Bishop Noland — are closed Monday due to Tropical Storm Nicholas and the risk of flash flooding in parts of the parish.

“We feel this decision is in the best interest of students, faculty and staff and was made after consulting with local emergency officials and meteorologists,” Holly Holland, spokesperson for the Calcasieu Parish School Board, said. She said families will be notified later today of the status of school on Tuesday.

“Please stay safe during this time, and we look forward to welcoming everyone back to our campuses soon,” she said.

Donald Jones, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service’s Lake Charles office, said Nicholas is continuing to organize in the Gulf of Mexico with winds near 40 mph.

“Steady intensification is expected overnight and over the next couple of days until the storm makes landfall,” Jones said.

Jones said Nicholas is expected to move north near the Mexico-Texas border over the next three days with a landfall expected somewhere along the central Texas coastline early Tuesday.

Jones said the longer Nicholas stays out over the Gulf of Mexico, the more opportunity it will have to strengthen.

“The biggest threat for our area by far will be the potential for rainfall, regardless of development.”

He said the area could expect 5-10 inches of rain with some pockets of the area facing a potential 25 inches.

“This will lead to street flooding and if it’s anywhere near the possible 25 inches, we will see water in homes,” he said. “Winds will be dependent on the strength of the storm, but what we’re really facing is the rain.”

He said the storm is expected to slow as it moves inland, which will create continuous rainband threats.

“That’s when those rainfall totals are really going to build up,” he said.

He said Southwest Louisiana has about a 30 percent chance of experiencing tropical storm-force winds Monday night into Tuesday morning.

Tides will run 1 to 2 feet above normal in the region.

Sandbag locations

Calcasieu: While the sand and bags are provided, residents must bring their own shovels and fill their own bags. These facilities are not staffed with personnel.

Ward 1 Barn – 461 Parish Road, Moss Bluff                   

Ward 2 Barn – 7085 La. 14 East, Hayes

Ward 3 Old Barn – 2320 Smith Road, Lake Charles

Old Kroger Building- Beglis Pkwy. and Napoleon St., Sulphur

Ward 5 Barn – 129 Third St., Starks

Ward 6 Barn – 1275 Plum St., DeQuincy

Ward 8 Barn – 1726 Parish Barn Road, Iowa.

Jeff Davis: Sand and sandbags will be available at the following locations. Residents should bring their own shovel.

Jennings Police Jury Road Yard, Airport Road, Jennings

Hathaway Fire Station, La. 102, Jennings

Fire District No. 2, 5396 Pine Island Highway, Jennings

Woodlawn Fire Station,  20487  La. 101, Iowa

Fire District No. 3, 11055 La. 101 South, Iowa

Fire District No. 5, 23405 La. 383, Iowa

Fenton Yard, 18677 Estes Road, Iowa

Lake Arthur Community Center, 701 8th St, Lake Arthur

Lacassine Fire Station, 314 Anne Street, Lacassine

Fenton Police Jury Yard,  Estes Road, Fenton

Fenton Elementary School, 509 1st Street, Fenton

Fire District No. 7, 135 North Lane, Ragley

Welsh Police Jury Yard,  across from Welsh Community Center, Welsh

Fire District No. 3, 20487 La. 101, Welsh

Fire District No. 3, 6475 La. 99, Welsh

Fire District No. 3, 17155 La. 90, Welsh

Elton Town Hall, 1302 Main Street, Elton

Fire District No. 1, 14132 La. 395, Roanoke

Beauregard: Sandbags will be available 7 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Monday for city of DeRidder residents at the City Shop, at 735 West 7th St. Bring a shovel. Limit 10 bags per household.