Dangerous flooding continued across Texas as forecasters tracked a tropical disturbance that could briefly strengthen into the Atlantic season’s first named storm before moving inland later this week.
Now a “potential tropical cyclone” over southern Texas, the system has a 60% chance of becoming Tropical Storm Arthur as it moves into the Gulf of Mexico, renamed the Gulf of America by the federal government. “The time frame for possible development is from Tuesday [June 16] to Wednesday [June 17] before the system moves inland,” said AccuWeather hurricane expert Alex DaSilva in an online forecast.
The center issued its first tropical storm watch of the season Tuesday morning from Sargent, Texas, to Morgan City, Louisiana. Tropical storms earn a name when forecasters describe them as an organized or organizing system with a warm central core and maximum sustained winds of at least 39 mph.
The system will be trouble even if it doesn’t become Arthur: The hurricane center said that “regardless of tropical cyclone formation, interests across southern and eastern Texas and portions of Louisiana and Mississippi should prepare for periods of intense rainfall over the next several days, which could produce widespread, life-threatening flash, urban, and river flooding.”
“Gusty winds and coastal flooding are also possible along portions of the northwestern Gulf Coast,” the hurricane center said.
What is a tropical storm watch?
A tropical storm watch means tropical storm conditions are possible within the watch area. The National Hurricane Center anticipates that the system will organize into a tropical storm Wednesday.
Potential Tropical Cyclone One impacts in Texas
“Potential Tropical Cyclone One is expected to produce rainfall totals of 4 to 8 inches with isolated higher totals around 12 inches through Thursday from the Mid to Upper Texas Coast through much of Louisiana, central and southern portions of Mississippi and Alabama, and the far western portion of the Florida Panhandle,” the National Hurricane Center said. This could generate dangerous to life-threatening flash flooding.”
Even though the storm has not yet organized, the system has fueled training storms in Texas since the weekend, producing dangerous conditions and flash flooding from southeast Texas to Waco.
Flooding in Central Texas has prompted multiple water rescues and left one dead Monday, June 15.
Tropical storm vs. hurricane
The National Hurricane Center (NHC) classifies tropical cyclones based on their maximum sustained wind speeds.
A tropical storm is a system with sustained winds of 39 to 73 mph, while a hurricane has sustained winds of 74 mph or higher.
Hurricanes are then further categorized from Category 1 to Category 5 using the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale, depending on the strength of their sustained winds.
Atlantic hurricane storm tracker
Bandera County woman dies in floodwaters
A woman who called 911 from a flooded Bandera County road near San Antonio was found dead in her submerged car as South Central Texas faces a flood watch and the possible Gulf tropical storm.
Hours after the 5:30 a.m. call, rescuers found the driver around 4:30 p.m., according to a release from the Bandera County Sheriff’s Office. Dispatchers were disconnected from the call most likely due to “water infiltration into the vehicle,” the news release stated.
Gov. Abbott issues disaster declaration
Gov. Greg Abbott announced Monday that he was issuing a disaster declaration for 101 Texas counties as storms threatened the state.
“Texas is prepared to respond to the severe weather threats that continue to move across our state,” Abbott said in a news release. “Because of the impact caused by ongoing storms and flood risks, I have issued a disaster declaration for 101 Texas counties to ensure that local officials and communities have access to the full range of state resources and support. Texans should heed the guidance of state and local officials and take all necessary precautions to stay safe during this severe weather.”
More counties will be added if needed, the news release stated.
This article originally appeared on Corpus Christi Caller Times: Tracker: Texas should brace for first named storm of hurricane season.
Reporting by Brandi D. Addison and Doyle Rice, USA TODAY NETWORK / Corpus Christi Caller Times
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By Brandi D. Addison and Doyle Rice, USA TODAY NETWORK | USA TODAY Network
