Remnants of Arthur pound South MS, with flood and flash-flood warnings announced

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The remnants of what was Tropical Storm Arthur are dumping heavy rain in Mississippi and Louisiana, continuing the danger of flash- and river-flooding that have plagued South Mississippi this week.

“It’s going to be a rainy day,” said meteorologist Matt Stratton, Harrison County’s emergency management director. “I think things will be improving tomorrow.”

Arthur is now a post-tropical cyclone, having weakened as it moved from the Gulf inland. The National Hurricane Center described Arthur on Thursday morning as a trough of low pressure over the southeastern United States.

While rain will remain in the forecast after Thursday, it won’t be as heavy or Arthur-related. But today, the National Weather Service warns “widespread, life-threatening flash flooding may likely occur from training storms . . . into early Thursday.”

Multiple streets in Picayune were inundated Thursday moring with a foot of water, the NWS reported. Between 6 and 10 inches of rain has fallen, with an additional 2-4 inches possible.

Tornados also are a possibility. At 9:05 a.m., a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado was 10 miles east of Picayune, moving northeast at 25 mph, with a tornado warning issued for Hancock and Pearl River counties until 10 a.m.

From 7 p.m. Wednesday to 7 p.m. Thursday, the NWS office in New Orleans says 10 to 15 inches of rain could fall, with the potential for up to 20 inches in isolated areas. The highest totals are expected north of Mississippi’s three Coastal counties.

Watches, warnings for South MS

The NWS watches and warnings for Mississippi coastal areas are listed below:

Severe thunderstorm warning

• Northern Hancock, Southeastern Pearl River County until 10:30 a.m., with severe thunderstorms along a line that extends from 14 miles east of McNeill to near Picayune, moving east at 5 mph.

• Northern Harrison County until 9:45 a.m., with severe thunderstorms along a line extending from near Saucier to 6 miles northeast of Diamondhead, moving east at 20 mph.

Flood warnings

• Pearl River near Pearl River, affecting Hancock and Pearl River counties from Thursday afternoon to Saturday. The river is expected to rise above its 14-foot flood stage Thursday morning, cresting early Monday afternoon at 17.5 feet. Moderate flooding is forecast.
• East Hobolochitto Creek near McNeill, affecting Pearl River County until Sunday morning. The river is expected to crest at 20.feet early Friday morning and fall below 15-foot flood stage early Sunday morning. Minor flooding is occurring and major flooding is forecast.
• West Hobolochitto Creek near McNeill, affecting Pearl River County until Sunday afternoon. The river is expected to crest at 22.5 feet early Friday morning and fall below 15-foot flood stage late Sunday morning. Moderate flooding is occurring and major flooding is forecast.
• Biloxi River near Lyman, affecting Harrison County, from Thursday evening to Saturday evening. The river is expected to crest at 14.8 feet Friday morning and fall below 12-foot flood state early Saturday afternoon, with minor flooding forecast.
• Wolf River above Gulfport, affecting Harrison County until further notice. The river is expected to crest at 12.5 feet early Sunday morning. Flood stage is 8.0 feet. Minor flooding is occurring and moderate flooding is forecast. The river is expected to crest at 14.8 feet Friday morning. With a 12-foot flood stage, minor flooding is forecast.
• Pascagoula River at Graham Ferry, affecting Jackson County from Friday evening until further notice. The river is expected to rise above 16-foot flood stage late Friday evening, cresting at 16.5 feet Saturday evening, with minor flooding forecast

Flash-flood warnings

• Hancock, Harrison and Pearl River counties until 11:30 a.m., with radar indicating thunderstorms producing heavy rain. Between 1 and 3 inches of rainfall already reported, with flash flooding ongoing or expected shortly.
• Western Stone County until 10:15 a.m. Thursday.

Tornado warnings

• Until 10 a.m. Friday for northwestern Harrison, west central Hancock and Pearl River counties, including Interstate 59 in Louisiana between mile markers 8 and 11, and I-59 in Mississippi between mile markers 1 and 7.
• t 9:05 AM, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado was located 9 miles southeast of McNeill, or 10 miles east of Picayune, moving northeast at 25 mph.
• Thursday, Jun. 18, 2026 9:05 AM - Thursday, Jun. 18, 2026 10:00 AM
• Counties Affected: Hancock,Pearl River

Special marine warning

• Coastal waters from Pascagoula to Stake Island out 20 nautical miles in the Mississippi Sound until 9:30 a.m. Thursday.

This story was originally published June 18, 2026 at 9:01 AM.

Anita Lee

Sun Herald

601-909-0638

Anita, a Mississippi native, graduated with a journalism degree from the University of Southern Mississippi and previously worked at the Jackson Daily News and Virginian-Pilot, joining the Sun Herald in 1987. She specializes in in-depth coverage of government, public corruption, transparency and courts. She has won state, regional and national journalism awards, most notably contributing to Hurricane Katrina coverage awarded the 2006 Pulitzer Prize in Public Service. Support my work with a digital subscription