Parts of Texas and Louisiana are under a tropical storm watch as a storm system dumps heavy rain on the coastline.
The system is expected to make landfall Wednesday night along the Texas-Louisiana border.
“The National Hurricane Center said there was a 60 percent chance that the storm would intensify into the first named storm of this year’s Atlantic hurricane season,” The New York Times reports.
If the system intensifies enough, it will be called Arthur.
Breaking News: Parts of Texas and Louisiana are under a tropical storm watch as a system threatens to dump heavy rain across the region. Forecasters warned that some places could record up to a foot of rain by the end of the week. https://t.co/ImKa1t9nFr
— The New York Times (@nytimes) June 16, 2026
More from The New York Times:
For now, the system is officially called Potential Tropical Cyclone One.
Parts of Texas have already been inundated with heavy rain and flash flood warnings. Gov. Greg Abbott of Texas issued a disaster declaration on Monday evening for 101 counties in the state, citing the risk from the storms and possible flooding.
A deluge of rain has fallen far inland since Sunday, bringing over nine inches in Caldwell, Texas, and from three to four inches in Austin, San Antonio and Houston.
On Wednesday, Houston is set to host its second World Cup match, between Portugal and the Democratic Republic of Congo. The threat of heavy rain was not a cause of concern for the match at the covered NRG Stadium, temporarily renamed Houston Stadium for the tournament.
But ahead of the match, organizers shortened hours for the city’s fan festival, where many have been gathering to watch matches. The city’s World Cup organizing committee said that the festival would open in the evening on Tuesday instead of earlier in the day. The shortened festivities on Tuesday could change further if severe weather made it unsafe for fans in the evening, organizers said. The fan festival was closed on Monday as heavy rain made its way through the area.
“Potential Tropical Cyclone One has been designated. Heavy rain and dangerous flooding are expected from the Texas coast into parts of Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama through Thursday. Some areas could receive up to 12 inches of rain,” The Weather Channel stated.
BREAKING: Potential Tropical Cyclone One has been designated. Heavy rain and dangerous flooding are expected from the Texas coast into parts of Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama through Thursday. Some areas could receive up to 12 inches of rain. pic.twitter.com/sNSe9wabJf
— The Weather Channel (@weatherchannel) June 16, 2026
“NHC has initiated advisories on Potential Tropical Cyclone One (formerly AL90) located over southern Texas. Potential Tropical Cyclone Advisories (PTC Advisories) are issued when there is high confidence that the disturbance will develop into a storm and bring significant impacts. Potentially life-threatening flash and urban flooding is possible across the Texas coast eastward into central Mississippi through Thursday. Prolonged rainfall may extend the flood threat into the weekend. Widespread small stream and minor river flooding is expected along the Texas coast into southwest Louisiana, with isolated areas of significant river flooding possible across the Texas Coast and Louisiana,” the National Weather Service wrote.
“Potential Tropical Cyclone One is forecast to become a tropical storm as it moves along or just off the northwestern Gulf coast through Wednesday. Tropical Storm Watches have been issued from Sargent, Texas, to Morgan City, Louisiana. Minor to moderate coastal flooding is expected along portions of the Upper Texas and Louisiana coastlines,” it added.
NHC has initiated advisories on Potential Tropical Cyclone One (formerly AL90) located over southern Texas. Potential Tropical Cyclone Advisories (PTC Advisories) are issued when there is high confidence that the disturbance will develop into a storm and bring significant… pic.twitter.com/I9cVHL8Q14
— National Weather Service (@NWS) June 16, 2026
NOLA.com shared further:
The worst-case scenario for rainfall could go as high as 15 to 20 inches in some areas near Baton Rouge, Acadiana and the northshore, the NHC said Tuesday.
In New Orleans, Singleton said up to 4 inches of rain or more could be seen by end of day Thursday.
Southeast Louisiana is also facing heavy rain from a different front, and a flash flood warning is in effect for an area that include Reserve, Donaldsonville and Gramercy until 1:45 p.m.
The storms associated with Potential Tropical Cyclone 1 are expected to flood streets and roadways and lead to closures. Sandbag locations are already opening across southeast Louisiana on Tuesday morning.
Local officials in the New Orleans area were beginning to make preparations Tuesday for the storm and any effects it could bring to the metro area.
St. Charles Parish and St. John the Baptist Parish announced locations where residents could fill sandbags and other local governments were beginning to issue information to residents.