Gulf storm nears tropical status as Texas to Mississippi brace for floods
What's next: Forecasters see a 70% chance of tropical cyclone formation within two days, with up to 12 inches of rain in some coastal areas.
A storm system off the Texas Gulf Coast moved closer to becoming the first named storm of the 2026 Atlantic hurricane season as forecasters warned of life-threatening flash flooding from Texas to Mississippi. The National Hurricane Center said Tuesday the disturbance was centered about 55 miles south-southwest of Corpus Christi, Texas, with top winds near 30 mph. A tropical storm watch was in effect from Sargent, Texas, to Morgan City, Louisiana. Meteorologists said the system could strengthen by early Wednesday, while 4 to 8 inches of rain — and isolated totals near 12 inches — could fall by Thursday. Tornadoes were also possible from the upper Texas coast across southern Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and the Florida Panhandle.