Tropical Cyclone Arthur weakens to a low pressure area along the upper
Texas coast
[June 18, 2026]
By DAVID FISCHER and STEPHEN SMITH
COVINGTON, La. (AP) — Tropical Storm Arthur was downgraded to a low
pressure area along the upper Texas coast Wednesday night but
forecasters expected its remnants to bring life-threatening flooding and
days of heavy rains to parts of the southeastern United States,
according to the National Hurricane Center in Miami.
Arthur was the first tropical storm of the season in the Atlantic basin
and it's expected to keep weakening as it moves inland over southeastern
Texas and western Louisiana, then cross the southeast Thursday through
Friday. Maximum sustained winds were around 35 mph (55 kph).
All coastal watches and warnings were discontinued Wednesday night, but
flooding was likely through Friday over parts of Texas, Louisiana,
Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia and the Florida Panhandle, the hurricane
center said.
In Louisiana and Mississippi, some communities had set up locations for
residents to collect sandbags and cleared debris from drainage systems.
“The main threat from Arthur is going to be a prolonged, multiday, heavy
rainfall event that could produce dangerous to life-threatening flash
flooding,” National Hurricane Center director Michael Brennan said.
The storm spun off the Texas coast on the same day a World Cup match
took place in Houston but did not disrupt the contest, which was played
indoors. Heavy storms in the Houston area earlier in the week had
canceled outdoor watch parties and fan events.
New Orleans Mayor Helena Moreno said police were preparing boats and
setting up barricades in known flood areas. Collection points for
residents to fill sandbags also sprung up around the state.
“We both decided we got so much rain yesterday at our house that it was
probably a good idea just to pick up a few bags," said Luke Barwick, who
filled sandbags at a collection center in Covington, Louisiana.
After being inundated with heavy rain earlier this week, parts of
central and south Mississippi braced for a second wave of potential
flooding.
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Lelania Martinez, left, Gregory Heath and Ethan Garza walk along the
jetty as heavy surf stirred up by Tropical Storm Arthur batters the
beach in Surfside, Texas, Wednesday, June 17, 2026. (Brett Coomer/Houston
Chronicle via AP)
Officials in Picayune, Mississippi, located about 50 miles (80
kilometers) north of New Orleans, declared a state of emergency Tuesday
after downpours brought nearly 7 inches of rain in six hours. On
Wednesday, city officials gave out thousands of sandbags and put
emergency responders on standby.
Arthur is expected to produce rainfall totals of 5 to 10 inches (13 to
25 centimeters), with isolated higher totals near 20 inches (50
centimeters).
Swells generated by Arthur are likely to cause life-threatening surf and
rip-current conditions along the northwestern Gulf Coast for the next
couple of days, forecasters said. Tornadoes were possible through
Thursday.
Arthur formed as some areas along the Texas coast had already been
drenched by bands of heavy storms that caused flooding and high waters.
Near Houston, a 15-year-old drowned Tuesday after entering the water of
a retention pond while playing near a construction zone, according to
the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office.
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Fischer reported from Miami. Associated Press writer Sophia Bates in
Jackson, Mississippi, contributed to this report.
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