The first tropical storm of the Atlantic hurricane season formed near the Gulf of Mexico coast on Wednesday, bringing heavy rain and the threat of dangerous flash flooding to states including Texas and Louisiana, forecasters reported.
Tropical Storm Arthur was a disorganized group of storms that had been producing rain for several days in parts of eastern Mexico and the Gulf of Mexico. The National Hurricane Center, based in Miami, indicated that conditions were favorable for the formation of a short-lived tropical storm.
Arthur was forecast to move over the northwest Gulf Coast toward Texas, Louisiana and Mississippi. Strong winds and storm surge are also possible and could cause coastal flooding.
“Prolonged rains could extend the threat of flooding into the weekend,” Michael Brennan, director of the National Hurricane Center, said Tuesday.