Tropical Storm Arthur became the first named storm of the 2026 Atlantic hurricane season on Wednesday when it formed along the Texas coast, the National Hurricane Center said in its 10 a.m. CDT update.
The NHC reported that the center of the storm was approximately 40 miles east-northeast of O’Connor, Texas, and about 190 miles west-southwest of Lake Charles, Louisiana. Maximum sustained winds were measured at 40 mph, with the system moving northeast at 9 mph. The NHC said the storm is not expected to strengthen into a hurricane and forecast it to be downgraded to a tropical depression by Wednesday evening as it moves inland.
Forecasters issued a tropical storm warning for a stretch of the Gulf Coast from High Island, Texas, to Morgan City, Louisiana. A tropical storm watch was in effect from Sargent, Texas, to High Island. “On the forecast track, the low pressure area should move northeastward along the Texas coast today and then move inland over southwestern Louisiana by tonight,” the NHC said.
The NHC warned that states across the northern Gulf Coast — including Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia and Florida — could face potentially life-threatening flash flooding as the storm moves inland. Tropical storm-force winds and minor to moderate coastal flooding were also expected along the upper Texas and Louisiana coasts, the NHC said.