Tropical Storm Arthur Update for Texas: Flooding, Heat, and Storm Chances

Potential Tropical Cyclone One is moving into the Gulf near Corpus Christi and could become Tropical Storm Arthur on Wednesday.

For Texas, the main message is this: the worst widespread flooding from this setup may be behind us, but Southeast Texas, the Golden Triangle, Far East Texas, and parts of the middle and upper Texas coast still need to watch heavy rain bands tonight into Wednesday.

This Tuesday evening Texas Weather Roundup covers Potential Tropical Cyclone One, possible Tropical Storm Arthur, the remaining Texas rain and flooding risk, coastal impacts, rip currents, and the dangerous heat building across Texas later this week.

PTC One is expected to move east into the Gulf tonight, then slowly northeast on Wednesday. It may become Tropical Storm Arthur if sustained winds reach at least 40 mph. This is not expected to be a hurricane or a major wind event for Texas.

The main coastal concerns are: heavy rain bands, localized flash flooding, coastal flooding from higher tides, dangerous rip currents, gusty winds near the coast, and a waterspout or brief tornado risk near the middle and upper Texas coast.

The highest remaining Texas rain/flooding concern is generally from the middle and upper Texas coast into Southeast Texas, the Golden Triangle, and Far East Texas. That includes areas near Seadrift, Bay City, Galveston, Beaumont, Port Arthur, Jasper, and the lower Toledo Bend region.

Houston may still see scattered showers and storms, but the worst widespread flooding risk there may be done. Austin and San Antonio are also likely finished with the main impacts from this tropical rain setup.

That said, localized heavy rain bands can still cause problems where they sit. Additional pockets of 1 to 3 inches are possible from Houston toward Beaumont, with localized amounts over 6 inches possible. Isolated higher totals cannot be ruled out under persistent bands.

After PTC One moves east, more rain and storm chances return Thursday through the weekend across the eastern two-thirds of Texas as another front moves south. These storms will be more scattered, but they can still produce heavy rain, lightning, gusty winds, and some hail.

The other major story is heat.

Wednesday and Thursday will be hot across much of Texas. Actual air temperatures may reach 105 to 110 degrees across parts of West Texas, the Big Country, Northwest Texas, the Concho Valley, Big Bend, Borderland, and nearby areas.

Thursday may be especially nasty. Heat index values may reach 98 to 110 degrees across much of the eastern half of Texas, with parts of the Rio Grande Valley and Deep South Texas possibly approaching 125 degrees.

In this Texas Weather Roundup: Potential Tropical Cyclone One near Corpus Christi, PTC One could become Tropical Storm Arthur Wednesday, why this is not a major Texas wind event, rain bands shifting east toward Southeast Texas and Louisiana, coastal flooding and dangerous rip currents, waterspout or brief tornado risk near the coast, Southeast Texas and Golden Triangle flood risk, Houston, Austin and San Antonio impact update, rain forecast through Sunday, dangerous heat builds Wednesday and Thursday, heat index values may become dangerous in South Texas, and more storm chances Thursday through the weekend.

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