Tropical Storm Arthur Brings Heavy Rain and Flooding to Gulf Coast and Southeastern States

By Amin Sobhani, NLIHC DHR Intern 

Tropical Storm Arthur, the first named storm of the 2026 Atlantic hurricane season, brought heavy rainfall, strong winds, flash flooding, and severe weather to the U.S. Gulf Coast and parts of the Southeast in mid-June. The National Hurricane Center reported on June 17 that Arthur had maximum sustained winds of 45 miles per hour and that tropical-storm-force winds extended outward up to 175 miles from the center. Later that evening, Arthur degenerated into a low-pressure area along the upper Texas coast, but its remnants continued to produce widespread heavy rainfall across the southeastern United States.  

The National Hurricane Center warned that Arthur could produce 5 to 10 inches of rainfall, with isolated totals near 20 inches, from the mid and upper Texas coast into portions of Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, western Georgia, and the Florida Panhandle. NASA’s Earth Observatory reported that, as Arthur weakened, the storm continued bringing abundant moisture to central Gulf Coast states, with the National Weather Service reporting rainfall rates of 3 inches per hour in southeastern Louisiana. 

The storm caused significant flooding and damage in parts of Louisiana and Mississippi. Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry declared a state of emergency for Avoyelles, Lafourche, Pointe Coupee, St. Landry, St. Tammany, and Terrebonne parishes in response to severe weather caused by Arthur. According to the Associated Press, Arthur’s remnants brought more than two feet of rain to parts of Avoyelles Parish and flooded at least 200 homes. On June 23, the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries reported that agents working with Louisiana State Police troopers and local first responders rescued 86 people and 20 pets from floodwaters in Avoyelles Parish. 

In Mississippi, the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency reported that heavy rainfall from Arthur’s remnants caused flooding, road closures, power outages, and damage to homes, businesses, and public infrastructure across multiple counties. One storm-related fatality had been reported in Franklin County. MEMA also reported damage in Forrest, Franklin, Hancock, Harrison, Jackson, Lawrence, Pearl River, Rankin, Stone, and Walthall counties, as well as approximately 2,600 power outages statewide. MEMA coordinated the deployment of four swift water rescue teams to support operations in south Mississippi, and several shelters and safe rooms remained open for residents affected by flooding.  

NLIHC and members of our Disaster Housing Recovery Coalition (DHRC) will continue to monitor the housing impacts of Tropical Storm Arthur and advocate for a full and equitable recovery for the lowest-income households and people experiencing homelessness. The DHRC, which includes more than 900 national, state, and local organizations, works to ensure that federal disaster recovery efforts reach those most impacted and most marginalized by disasters, including households with the lowest incomes, seniors, people with disabilities, families with children, veterans, and people experiencing homelessness. 

Read FEMA’s hurricane preparation guidance at Ready.gov.  

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