Tropical Storm Arthur forms near Texas coast; flooding threat stretches across Southeast

Mobile, Al — Tropical Storm Arthur formed near the middle Texas coast Wednesday morning, bringing the threat of life-threatening flooding, gusty winds, storm surge and possible tornadoes to parts of the Gulf Coast and Southeast.

As of 10 a.m. CDT, the National Hurricane Center said Arthur was located about 40 miles east-northeast of Port O’Connor, Texas, and about 190 miles west-southwest of Lake Charles, Louisiana. The storm had maximum sustained winds of 40 mph and was moving northeast at 9 mph.

Arthur is expected to move northeast along the Texas coast Wednesday before moving inland over southwestern Louisiana by Wednesday night. Forecasters said little change in strength is expected before the center reaches land. The storm is expected to weaken once inland and could dissipate by Wednesday night or early Thursday.

A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect from High Island, Texas, to Morgan City, Louisiana. A Tropical Storm Watch is in effect from Sargent, Texas, to High Island, Texas. Tropical storm conditions are expected in the warning area Wednesday, while tropical storm-force winds are possible in the watch area.

The biggest concern is heavy rainfall. Arthur is expected to bring 5 to 10 inches of rain, with isolated totals near 20 inches possible, from the mid and upper Texas coast east-northeast into southern and central Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama, as well as western Georgia and the Florida Panhandle. Forecasters said the rain could cause dangerous to life-threatening flash flooding.

Storm surge could also cause normally dry areas near the coast to flood. The National Hurricane Center said water levels could reach 2 to 4 feet above ground from Port Bolivar, Texas, to Morgan City, Louisiana, if peak surge happens at high tide.

Swells generated by Arthur are likely to create life-threatening surf and rip current conditions along the northwestern Gulf Coast for the next couple of days.

A couple of tornadoes are also possible through Thursday from the upper Texas coast into southern Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and the western Florida Panhandle.

The National Hurricane Center said tropical-storm-force winds extend up to 175 miles from Arthur’s center. A NOAA buoy east of Galveston recently reported a sustained wind of 38 mph and a gust of 43 mph, while Scholes International Airport in Galveston reported a gust of 48 mph.

The next intermediate advisory is scheduled for 1 p.m. CDT, with the next full advisory expected at 4 p.m. CDT.