Latest on Tropical Storm Arthur: Wednesday, June 17 update from the National Hurricane Center
Article first published: Wednesday, June 17, 2026, 5 a.m. ET
Article last updated: Wednesday, June 17, 2026, 8 p.m. ET
System type: Tropical storm
System name: Arthur
At 8 p.m. Wednesday, the National Hurricane Center issued an advisory stating that the system strengthened enough to get a name: Tropical Storm Arthur. It found new strength and had evolved from a potential tropical cyclone into a tropical storm with sustained winds of 40 mph. The system's new name was first made public in the 11 a.m. advisory. Tropical Storm Arthur is 10 miles northwest of Galveston, Texas and 115 miles west-southwest of Lake Charles, Louisiana. It is moving northeast at 8 mph, with maximum sustained winds of 40 mph.
"... the center of Arthur should move farther inland over southeastern Texas tonight," forecasters observed. They also said "Weakening is expected as the center of Arthur moves farther inland, and it could dissipate later tonight or early Thursday."
Forecasters alert of a tropical storm warning issued for portions of the Louisiana coast.
Changes with this advisory
The Tropical Storm Warning is discontinued west of High Island.
Texas.
Warning currently in effect
Tropical Storm Warning for High Island, Texas to Morgan City, Louisiana
Meaning of the warning
A Tropical Storm Warning means that tropical storm conditions are expected within the warning area.
Hazards affecting land
Rainfall Tropical Storm Arthur is expected to produce rainfall totals of 5 to 10 inches, with isolated higher totals near 20 inches, through early Friday from the Mid and Upper Texas coast east-northeast into southern and central portions of Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama, along with western portions of Georgia and the Florida Panhandle. This could generate dangerous to life-threatening flash flooding.
For a complete forecast of rainfall associated with Tropical Storm Arthur, please see the National Weather Service Storm Total Rainfall Graphic available at hurricanes.gov/graphics_at1.shtml?rainqpf and the Flash Flood Risk graphic at hurricanes.gov/graphics_at1.shtml?ero.
For a list of rainfall observations (and wind reports) associated with Tropical Storm Arthur, see the companion storm summary at WBCSCCNS1 with the WMO header ACUS44 KWBC or at the following link: www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/discussions/nfdscc1.html.
Wind. Tropical storm conditions are expected within the warning area during the next few hours.
Storm surge. The combination of a dangerous storm surge and the tide will cause normally dry areas near the coast to be flooded by rising waters moving inland from the shoreline. The water could reach the following heights above ground somewhere in the indicated areas if the peak surge occurs at the time of high tide...
Matagorda, TX to the Mouth of the Mississippi River, LA...1-3 ft
The deepest water will occur along the immediate coast near and to the east of the landfall location, where the surge will be accompanied by large and dangerous waves. Surge-related flooding depends on the relative timing of the surge and the tidal cycle, and can vary greatly over short distances.
For a complete depiction of areas at risk of storm surge inundation, please see the National Weather Service Peak Storm Surge Graphic, available at hurricanes.gov/graphics_at1.shtml?peakSurge.
Surf. Swells generated by Arthur are likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions along the northwestern Gulf Coast for the next day or two.
A depiction of rip current risk for the United States can be found at: hurricanes.gov/graphics_at1.shtml?ripCurrents
Tornado A few tornadoes are possible late tonight across southeast Louisiana and southern Mississippi, and tomorrow into parts of Alabama, Georgia, and the Florida Panhandle.
Source: National Hurricane Center
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This story was originally published June 17, 2026 at 6:40 PM.