Dangerous flooding from Tropical Storm Arthur, first of the Atlantic season, threatens Gulf Coast

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Play/PauseSPACE Increase Volume↑ Decrease Volume↓ Seek Forward→ Seek Backward← Captions On/Offc Fullscreen/Exit Fullscreenf Mute/Unmutem Decrease Caption Size- Increase Caption Size+ or = Seek %0-9 Next Up Kennedy orders cruise ship passenger to stay in quarantine, outraging some advocates and lawyers 02:07 00:00 01:19 01:19 More Videos 02:07 Kennedy orders cruise ship passenger to stay in quarantine, outraging some advocates and lawyers 01:01 AP Top Stories June 15 02:07 How to protect yourself during tick season 00:56 AP Top Stories June 11 01:01 AP top stories June 11 00:53 AP top stories June 13 01:01 AP top stories June 16 00:59 AP Top Stories June 17 Close 1 of 6 | If your home or community is at risk of flooding, here are some important steps experts say you can take to stay safe before, during and after a flood. (AP video: Brittany Peterson) 2 of 6 | A convention attendee walk through the rain outside the George R. Brown Convention Center, Wednesday, June 17, 2026, in Houston. (AP Photo/Kevin M. Cox) 3 of 6 | Portugal fans share a single poncho as rain falls on fans while waiting to enter Houston Stadium before a FIFA World Cup between Portugal and DR Congo in Houston, Wednesday, June 17, 2026. (Jason Fochtman/Houston Chronicle via AP) 4 of 6 | Low clouds hang over downtown produced by tropical weather in the Gulf of Mexico in Houston, Wednesday, June 17, 2026. 9Brett Coomer/Houston Chronicle via AP) 5 of 6 | This GOES-19 GeoColor satellite image provided by NOAA shows Tropical Storm Arthur along the Gulf Coast of Texas, on Wednesday, June 17, 2026. (NOAA via AP) CORRECTION: Name corrected to Arthur, instead of Arther 6 of 6 | A convention attendee walk through the rain outside the George R. Brown Convention Center, Wednesday, June 17, 2026, in Houston. (AP Photo/Kevin M. Cox) By David Fischer Updated 7:41 PM MESZ, June 17, 2026 Leer en español Add AP News on Google Add AP News as your preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. Share Share Facebook Copy Link copied Print Email X LinkedIn Bluesky Flipboard Pinterest Reddit MIAMI (AP) — A disorganized cluster of storms that had been plaguing the Gulf Coast for days came together to form Tropical Storm Arthur on Wednesday — the first tropical cyclone of the season in the Atlantic basin. Flash flooding was the main threat from Arthur, a weak tropical storm that the National Hurricane Center in Miami said would be short-lived. Maximum sustained winds were around 40 mph (65 kph), with little change in strength forecast before it is expected to dissipate by Wednesday night or early Thursday. The storm hung over coastal Texas on the same day a World Cup match was being played between Portugal and the Democratic Republic of Congo in Houston. The stadium is covered, and no plans were announced to move or reschedule the match. National Hurricane Center director Michael Brennan said during a briefing that flash flood warnings were already being issued in the Houston metro area, with more likely to follow across the region, even after the center of the storm passes. “The main threat from Arthur is going to be a prolonged, multiday, heavy rainfall event that could produce dangerous to life threatening flash flooding,” Brennan said. US tells states to deal with unemployment fraud - or face penalties 2 MIN READ Military officials identify all 8 victims of fiery B-52 crash at California Air Force base 3 MIN READ UN food agencies warn acute hunger will worsen in 13 hot spots as famine risks rise 1 MIN READ A teenager appears to have drowned in a flooded retention pond outside Houston, authorities said Tuesday evening. A group of teens were playing near a construction zone and an adjacent retention pond when a 15-year-old boy entered the water, the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office said on social media. Rescue workers found his body using sonar technology following an extensive search. “This incident serves as a solemn reminder of the dangers associated with floodwaters, particularly following periods of heavy rainfall,” the post said. Flooding was likely through Friday over parts of Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia and the Florida Panhandle, the hurricane center said. The tropical storm is expected to produce rainfall totals of 5 to 10 inches (13 to 25 centimeters), with isolated higher totals near 20 inches (50 centimeters). The combination of storm surge and the tide will cause normally dry areas near the coast to be flooded by rising waters moving inland from the shoreline. 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. Tornadoes are possible through Thursday. The center of Tropical Storm Arthur was located Wednesday morning about 40 miles (65 kilometers) east-northeast of Port O’Connor, Texas, according to an advisory. The storm was moving northeast near 9 mph (15 kph), and an increase in forward speed was expected.