This GOES-19 GeoColor satellite image provided by NOAA, shows a storm system forming along the Gulf coast of Texas, on Tuesday, June 16, 2026.
NOAA via AP/NOAA
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NOAA via AP/NOAA
MIAMI — The National Hurricane Center has indicated that a cluster of storms along the Gulf Coast may develop into the first named tropical storm of the 2026 Atlantic hurricane season.
These storms are predicted to produce heavy rainfall that could result in severe flooding across the southern states, including Texas and Louisiana. As of Tuesday afternoon, the system was located approximately 55 miles south-southwest of Corpus Christi, Texas, according to a hurricane center update.
Michael Brennan, director of the National Hurricane Center, stated that meteorologists anticipate the system could intensify into a tropical storm by early Wednesday. However, coastal regions might still face tropical storm conditions this week even if the system remains unnamed, Brennan added.
“The primary danger associated with these systems is mainly due to flooding from heavy rainfall,” Brennan noted. “We could potentially see life-threatening flash and urban flooding from the Texas coast extending eastward into central Mississippi through Thursday. The flood threat may persist into the weekend due to prolonged rainfall.”
Forecasters have warned of possible tornadoes from the upper Texas coast across southern Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and the Florida Panhandle.
The storm’s maximum sustained winds were recorded at around 30 mph on Tuesday, just short of the 39 mph threshold required for it to be classified as a tropical storm. The hurricane center reported a 70% chance of the system evolving into a tropical cyclone over the next two days.
Houston, which is set to host a World Cup match between Portugal and the Democratic Republic of the Congo on Wednesday, has been under a flood warning since Monday. The stadium is covered, and there have been no announcements regarding a change in schedule.
By Thursday, the storms could result in 4 to 8 inches (10 to 20 centimeters) of rainfall, with some coastal areas potentially receiving up to a foot (30 centimeters).
A tropical storm watch is currently in effect from Sargent, Texas, to Morgan City, Louisiana. Additionally, rough surf is anticipated, which may lead to rip currents along the Gulf over the coming days.
