Atlantic hurricane season opens with Tropical Storm Arthur inundating Gulf coast | US weather
The first tropical storm of the Atlantic hurricane season formed near the Gulf coast on Wednesday, bringing heavy rain and the threat of dangerous flash floods to states such as Texas and Louisiana, meteorologists said.
Tropical Storm Arthur was a patchy cluster of storms that brought days of rain to parts of eastern Mexico and the Gulf. The National Hurricane Center in Miami said conditions were conducive to the formation of a short-lived tropical storm.
Flash flood warnings have already been issued in the Houston metro area and are more likely to be tracked across the region even after the storm’s center has passed, National Hurricane Center director Michael Brennan said during a briefing.
“Arthur’s main threat will be a prolonged, multi-day, heavy rainfall event that could lead to life-threatening flash flooding,” said Brennan.
A teenager drowned in a flooded retention pond outside Houston, authorities said Tuesday evening. The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office said on social media that a group of teenagers were playing near the construction site and adjacent retention pond when a 15-year-old boy went into the water. After an extensive search, rescue teams found his body using sonar technology.
“This incident serves as a sobering reminder of the dangers associated with floodwater, especially following periods of heavy rainfall,” the post said.
Houston will host a World Cup match between Portugal and the Democratic Republic of the Congo on Wednesday. The stadium is closed and no plans have been announced to move or reschedule the match.
The center of Tropical Storm Arthur was located about 55 miles (90 km) east-northeast of Port O’Connor, Texas, on Wednesday morning, according to an advisory. The storm was moving in a northeasterly direction at approximately 15 km/h and its speed was expected to increase.
Arthur’s maximum sustained winds were 45mph (75km/h). Forecasters said little change in power is expected before the hub moves onshore. Weakening is expected as the storm moves inland and may dissipate Wednesday night or early Thursday.
Life-threatening flash flooding and urban flooding were the main threats as Arthur traveled the Gulf coast. The National Hurricane Center said in its key messages that flooding was likely through Friday in parts of Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia and Florida.
Arthur is expected to produce total rainfall of 5-10 inches (13-25 cm); isolated higher totals are around 20 inches (50 cm). The combination of storm surge and tide will result in the inundation of normally dry areas near the coast as rising waters move inland from the coastline.
Waves generated by Arthur are likely to cause life-threatening waves over the next several days and disrupt existing conditions along the northwestern Gulf coast. Tornadoes are possible through Thursday.
