Gulf system threatens flooding across South

A strengthening weather system in the western Gulf threatened to become the first tropical storm of the 2026 Atlantic hurricane season as it pushed heavy rain toward Texas, Louisiana and other parts of the South already coping with record downpours and flash flooding.

The National Hurricane Center issued advisories Tuesday for Potential Tropical Cyclone One, a tropical disturbance that forecasters said could organize into a tropical storm by early Wednesday. As of Tuesday evening, CBS News reported, the system was about 15 miles south-southeast of Corpus Christi, Texas, moving northeast at 6 mph with maximum sustained winds of 30 mph. Tropical storm status requires winds of at least 39 mph.

Earlier Tuesday, NPR reported the system was centered about 55 miles south-southwest of Corpus Christi and had a 70% chance of developing into a tropical cyclone within two days.

National Hurricane Center director Michael Brennan said the system could bring tropical storm conditions to coastal areas even if it does not receive a name.

“The main hazard with these types of systems is largely the flooding from the heavy rainfall,” Brennan said. “And we could see potentially life-threatening flash and urban flooding across the Texas coast eastward into central Mississippi through Thursday. Prolonged rainfall may extend the flood threat into the weekend.”

Forecasters warned that the system could create serious hazards along coastal northeastern Texas and southwestern Louisiana, with impacts also possible in Mississippi, Alabama and the far western Florida Panhandle. Parts of Texas and Louisiana were already experiencing “dangerous flash flooding,” the hurricane center said.

Rainfall totals could be significant. The hurricane center forecast 5 to 20 inches for parts of the mid and upper Texas coast, southern and central Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and portions of Georgia and the Florida Panhandle, CBS News reported. NPR reported that by Thursday, the storms could bring 4 to 8 inches of rain, with isolated totals of a foot in coastal areas.

Flood alerts covered a large swath of the region. CBS News reported that flood watches and warnings were in effect for more than 40 million people, with forecasters warning some areas could see rainfall rates of 2 to 4 inches per hour or higher. Major cities including Dallas, Houston, San Antonio and New Orleans faced continuing rounds of excessive rainfall, especially over the next 48 hours.

Tropical storm advisories also covered parts of the Gulf Coast. CBS News reported a tropical storm warning was in effect for the Louisiana coast from Sabine Pass to Morgan City, meaning tropical storm conditions were expected within 24 hours. NPR reported a tropical storm watch was in effect from Sargent, Texas, to Morgan City, Louisiana. Rough surf could produce rip currents along the Gulf for the next several days, forecasters said.

The flood threat followed a round of record rainfall Monday. National Weather Service offices in Austin, San Antonio and Shreveport, Louisiana, each reported daily rainfall records, CBS News said. San Antonio and Shreveport received more rain in a single day than either city had recorded since the late 19th century, while Austin broke a daily rainfall record set in 1964.

Forecasters also said tornadoes were possible from the upper Texas coast across southern Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and the Florida Panhandle.

In Houston, where a World Cup match between Portugal and the Democratic Republic of the Congo is scheduled for Wednesday, NPR reported the city has been under a flood warning since Monday. The stadium is covered, and no plans have been announced to move or reschedule the match.