COVINGTON, La. — Tropical Storm Arthur was downgraded to a low pressure area along the upper Texas coast Wednesday night but forecasters expected its remnants to bring life-threatening flooding and days of heavy rains to parts of the southeastern United States, according to the National Hurricane Center in Miami.
Arthur was the first tropical storm of the season in the Atlantic basin and it’s expected to keep weakening as it moves inland over southeastern Texas and western Louisiana, then cross the southeast Thursday through Friday. Maximum sustained winds were around 35 mph (55 kph).
“The main threat from Arthur is going to be a prolonged, multiday, heavy rainfall event that could produce dangerous to life-threatening flash flooding,” National Hurricane Center director Michael Brennan said.
The remnants of Arthur are set to move across the Gulf Coast today, producing rainfall rates of 3 inches an hour at times; the rainfall, in addition to already saturated areas, is what can also lead to flash flooding.
In areas of Louisiana, southern Mississippi and southern Alabama, and the western Florida Panhandle, a rare high-risk level is in effect for flooding.
Cities such as New Orleans and Atlanta are in a moderate risk zone.
The storm spun off the Texas coast on the same day a World Cup match took place in Houston but did not disrupt the contest, which was played indoors. Heavy storms in the Houston area earlier in the week had canceled outdoor watch parties and fan events.
New Orleans Mayor Helena Moreno said police were preparing boats and setting up barricades in known flood areas. Collection points for residents to fill sandbags also sprung up around the state.
“We both decided we got so much rain yesterday at our house that it was probably a good idea just to pick up a few bags,” said Luke Barwick, who filled sandbags at a collection center in Covington, Louisiana.
After being inundated with heavy rain earlier this week, parts of central and south Mississippi braced for a second wave of potential flooding.
Officials in Picayune, Mississippi, located about 50 miles (80 kilometers) north of New Orleans, declared a state of emergency Tuesday after downpours brought nearly 7 inches of rain in six hours. On Wednesday, city officials gave out thousands of sandbags and put emergency responders on standby.
On Wednesday, more than 200 storms were recorded, along with reported tornadoes across Wisconsin, Illinois, and Alabama.
Michael Yager, a father and business owner who kept vintage cars in Effingham County, Illinois, found his business was destroyed by a tornado.
“I didn’t have a reaction, I guess. I was kind of speechless, and for lack of words,” Yager said.
The risk of tornadoes continues for 63 million people from the Tennessee River Valley to New England; major cities to watch include Boston, New York City, Philadelphia and Baltimore.
Arthur is also expected to produce rainfall totals of 5 to 10 inches (13 to 25 centimeters), with isolated higher totals near 20 inches (50 centimeters).
Swells generated by Arthur are likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip-current conditions along the northwestern Gulf Coast for the next couple of days, forecasters said. Tornadoes were possible through Thursday.
Arthur formed as some areas along the Texas coast had already been drenched by bands of heavy storms that caused flooding and high waters. Near Houston, a 15-year-old drowned Tuesday after entering the water of a retention pond while playing near a construction zone, according to the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office. ___ Fischer reported from Miami. Associated Press writer Sophia Bates in Jackson, Mississippi, contributed to this report.
