By admin 
RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) — The first named storm of the 2026 Atlantic hurricane season has formed.
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Tropical Storm Arthur was named on Wednesday at 11 a.m. It is 40 miles east-northeast of Port O’Connor, Texas. The storm is moving northeast at nine miles per hour with sustained winds of 40 miles per hour.
Hurricane hunters, as well as buoys near the storm, were found to have tropical storm force winds, therefore allowing the National Hurricane Center to upgrade it to tropical storm strength. Arthur is not expected to be a strong or long-lived storm, as once it moves back over land later on Wednesday, it will weaken into a tropical depression.
This tropical system will bring very heavy rain across the Gulf Coast. Widespread 4-8″ is possible, but up to 12″ isn’t out of the question through Thursday, stretching from the Texas Gulf Coast, through Louisiana, central and south Mississippi, Alabama and the Florida Panhandle. This could result in dangerous flash flooding.
Additionally, a Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for High Island, Texas, to Morgan City, Louisiana. This means tropical storm conditions are expected within the next 12 hours. A tropical storm watch is also in effect from Sargent, Texas, to High Island, Texas, as tropical storm conditions are possible within the watch area.
No direct impacts are expected from this first system in central North Carolina, but some of the remnant moisture is expected to move east and interact with our next cold front on Friday, bringing us a chance for rain. But otherwise, no tropical issues in North Carolina are expected with this system.
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