Tropical Storm Arthur Brings Floods to Texas as Atlantic Hurricane Season Kicks Off

The Atlantic hurricane season has officially begun, and Tropical Storm Arthur has already made landfall in Texas, bringing a wave of heavy rain and strong winds to the Gulf Coast.

Tropical Storm Arthur formed on Wednesday after a sprawling area of showers and thunderstorms over Texas tracked over the warm waters of the Gulf, which helped it organize and strengthen. Hours later, the center of the storm moved inland over the Texas coast, bringing with it the risk of flooding and storm surge.

Roads were submerged around Houston amid the tropical downpours, and AccuWeather meteorologists warn that the heavy rain will cause the flood risk to expand into Thursday. "Never drive through flooded roadways," Houston TranStar warned motorists.

The same area of Louisiana devastated by multiple hurricanes in 2020 was in the path of Arthur, but fortunately impacts from the first storm of the season weren't too severe. Tropical Storm Arthur has made landfall along the coast of Texas, and as the first storm of the Atlantic hurricane season, it is bringing significant flooding to the Gulf Coast.

A vehicle that became stranded on a flooded road in The Woodlands, Texas, on June 16, 2026. (@StormChaserHTX via Storyful)

The World Cup fans braved heavy rain and areas of flooding to reach Houston Stadium on Wednesday, as Tropical Storm Arthur's downpours snarled travel around the city. The match itself was not directly impacted by the downpours as the pitch is protected by the stadium's roof.

A 15-year-old died Tuesday evening after entering a flooded retention pond in Magnolia, Texas, according to the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office. Deputies responded around 6 p.m. CDT to Turriff Circle after a report of a missing juvenile in a flooded retention pond.

Preliminary information from the sheriff's office indicates a group of teenagers was playing near a construction roadway and adjacent retention pond when the 15-year-old entered the water. The depth quickly exceeded the teen's height, and he went under but did not resurface.

After an extensive search, the juvenile was located underwater using sonar technology. He was recovered and pronounced dead at the scene. The sheriff's office said the incident is a reminder of the dangers associated with floodwaters, particularly after periods of heavy rainfall.

A broad zone of 4-8 inches of rain is forecast from South Texas to eastern Alabama. Within that area, a substantial swath could receive 8-12 inches over multiple days, with an AccuWeather Local StormMax of 20 inches.

The impacts on catch basins, drainage ditches and small streams could be almost immediate in areas hit by the heaviest downpours. As the water drains downstream, minor to moderate flooding is expected along numerous rivers and bayous.

Depending on where the heaviest rain sets up, major river flooding could occur late this week into early next week. Heavy rainfall flooded parts of Brazoria County near Houston, Texas, on June 17, prompting flash flood warnings in the area.

In Texas, rivers at risk for flooding include the Neches, Guadalupe, Brazos, San Antonio, Trinity, Colorado, and Nueces.

Arthur will also produce coastal hazards along the northwestern Gulf Coast. Tropical storm-force wind gusts of 40-60 mph are possible along the upper Texas coast and the western Louisiana coast into Wednesday night.

Rough surf and choppy seas are expected across much of the northwestern Gulf this week. A storm surge of 1-3 feet is anticipated from the upper Texas coast to the Louisiana coast, with locally higher amounts of 3-6 feet possible near where Arthur's center moves inland.

A storm surge of 1-3 feet is anticipated from the upper Texas coast to the Louisiana coast, with locally higher amounts of 3-6 feet possible near where Arthur's center moves inland.

Floodwater surrounds a neighborhood after Tropical Storm Arthur made landfall on June 17, 2026 in Freeport, Texas. Tropical Storm Arthur becomes the first named storm of the Atlantic hurricane season. (Photo by Brandon Bell/Getty Images)

AccuWeather meteorologists urge residents and visitors in flood-prone areas to avoid flooded roads and never enter floodwaters on foot or in a vehicle. Water can be deeper and moving faster than it appears, and conditions can deteriorate quickly during tropical downpours.

A flood watch remained in effect as Tropical Storm Arthur brought more rainfall to southeastern Texas.

Tropical Storm Arthur may impact travel to Houston World Cup match

Live: World Cup 2026 weather updates

Tropical Storm Arthur swamps cars in Texas as flood threat escalates