Tropical Storm Arthur has formed. What’s next for the first system of the season
Tropical Storm Arthur, the first named storm of the Atlantic hurricane season, has formed near the Texas coast.
The National Weather Service says Arthur has maximum sustained winds of 40 mph and is moving northeast at 9 mph. The current forecast calls for the storm to move south of Houston and over Beaumont, Texas, on a path toward the middle of Louisiana.
Watches and warnings
- A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for High Island, Texas to Morgan City, Louisiana
- A Tropical Storm Watch is in effect for Sargent, Texas to High Island, Texas
Arthur’s forecast
The National Weather Service says the low pressure area should move northeastward along the Texas coast today and then move inland over southwestern Louisiana by tonight.
The NWS reports that surface observations and data from the Air Force Reserve Hurricane Hunters indicate that maximum sustained winds have increased to near 40 mph with higher gusts. Little change in strength is expected before the center moves over land. Weakening is anticipated once the low moves inland, and it could dissipate by tonight or early Thursday.
Tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 175 miles from the center. A NOAA buoy east of Galveston recently reported a sustained wind of 38 mph and a gust of 43 mph.
The Scholes International Airport in Galveston recently reported a wind gust of 48 mph. The minimum central pressure based on surface observations is 1001 mb.
Mississippi Coast forecast
The National Weather Service office in Slidell says rain is in the forecast for the Coast, but Arthur’s effects shouldn’t be severe:
Wednesday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 1 p.m. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 86. South wind around 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
Wednesday night: Showers and thunderstorms likely, then showers and possibly a thunderstorm after 3 a.m. Low around 80. Breezy, with a south wind 15 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
Thursday: Showers and thunderstorms. High near 86. Breezy, with a southwest wind 15 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New rainfall amounts between a half and three quarters of an inch possible.
Thursday night: Showers and thunderstorms before 7pm, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm between 7pm and 1am, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1am. Low around 81. Breezy, with a southwest wind 15 to 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%.
Friday: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm before 1 p.m., then showers and thunderstorms likely after 1pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 88. Southwest wind around 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Friday night: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 78. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
This story was originally published June 17, 2026 at 10:31 AM.