Tropical Storm Arthur swirled to life in the Gulf of Mexico on Wednesday, the first named storm of the 2026 Atlantic basin hurricane season.
According to the National Hurricane Center, Arthur developed near the Middle Texas coast.
Storm strengthens; flooding a concern
Update 2:07 p.m. ET June 17: At 2 p.m. ET, the center of Tropical Storm Arthur was located about 55 miles east-northeast of Port O’Connor, Texas, and approximately 170 miles west-southwest of Lake Charles, Louisiana.
The storm strengthened slightly, with maximum sustained winds of 45, according to the National Hurricane Center.
The storm was moving to the northeast at 9 mph.
A tropical storm warning was in effect from Sergent, Texas to Morgan City, Louisiana, the hurricane center said.
The hurricane center said the biggest concern from Arthur was heavy rain. Between 5 to 10 inches of rain are projected, with up to 20 inches in some areas through early Friday.
“This could generate dangerous tolife-threatening flash flooding,” the hurricane center said in its statement.
Tropical Storm #Arthur Advisory 6A (1 PM CDT, Wed Jun 17): Tropical Storm Warning Remains in Effect for Portions of the Texas and Louisiana Coast. Life-Threatening Flooding Expected Across Portions of the Southeastern United States. https://t.co/tW4KeGdBFb
— National Hurricane Center (@NHC_Atlantic) June 17, 2026
Original report: At 11 a.m. ET, the center of the storm was located about 40 miles east-northeast of Port O’Connor, Texas, and approximately 190 miles west-southwest of Lake Charles, Louisiana.
Jun 17 10AM CDT: First Tropical Storm of the season forms in the Atlantic Basin. Here are the Key Messages for Tropical Storm #Arthur. For the latest information visit https://t.co/tW4KeGdBFb pic.twitter.com/tyNck2K7ka
— National Hurricane Center (@NHC_Atlantic) June 17, 2026
Maximum sustained winds of 40 mph were clocked by the hurricane center, just 5 mph above the speed needed to name a tropical system.
The storm was moving to the northeast at 9 mph.
A tropical storm warning was in effect from High Island, Texas to Morgan City, Louisiana, the hurricane center said.
The NHC will issue an intermediate advisory at 2 p.m. ET.
Tropical Storm #Arthur Advisory 5 (10 AM CDT, Wed Jun 17): Tropical Storm Arthur Develops Near the Middle Texas Coast. Life-Threatening Flooding Expected Across Portions of the Southeastern United States. https://t.co/tW4KeGdBFb
— National Hurricane Center (@NHC_Atlantic) June 17, 2026
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