Tropical Storm Arthur has formed along the middle of the Texas coast and is expected to bring torrential rain and the possibility of “life-threatening flash flooding” across parts of the Southeast, the National Hurricane Center said on Wednesday.

It is the first named storm of the 2026 Atlantic hurricane season.

Arthur is “expected to produce rainfall totals of 5 to 10 inches, with isolated higher totals near 20 inches” from the mid- and upper-Texas coast to southern and central portions of Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama, as well as western Georgia and the Florida Panhandle, through Friday, NHC forecasters said.

Where is Arthur now, and what is its path?

As of 11:30 a.m. CT on Wednesday:

The storm was located about 60 miles east-northeast of Port O’Connor, Texas, and about 165 miles west-southwest of Lake Charles, La.

It has maximum sustained winds of 45 mph.

The system is moving northeast at 9 mph.

The center of the storm is expected to continue moving along the Texas coast on Wednesday and inland over southwestern Louisiana on Wednesday night.

“Little change in strength is expected before the center moves over land,” the NHC said. However, it is expected to weaken once it moves inland and “could dissipate by tonight or early Thursday.”

Watches and warnings

A tropical storm warning is in effect for:

Sargent, Texas, to Morgan City, La.

This means that tropical storm conditions are expected within 12 to 24 hours.

How will it impact the World Cup?

Officials with FIFA have been monitoring the storm and its potential impacts for the ongoing World Cup, including upcoming matches in Houston and Atlanta.

Rain is possible during Wednesday’s World Cup match between Portugal and Congo DR at Houston’s NRG Stadium, temporarily rebranded Houston Stadium. But forecasters are not expecting significant impacts for fans traveling to and from the venue, which has a retractable roof.

There is a flood watch in Atlanta, where on Thursday Czechia and South Africa are scheduled to play at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, temporarily rebranded as Atlanta Stadium, at noon.

“Multiple rounds of heavy rainfall are expected over the area Thursday into Friday,” the National Weather Service said. “Widespread rainfall amounts of 2 to 4 inches are forecast, with locally higher amounts possible.”

On Sunday night, severe weather in the Atlanta area forced the cancellation of FIFA’s Fan Festival.