Tropical Storm Arthur was downgraded from a cyclone to a low pressure area along the upper Texas coast as it made landfall and lost wind intensity on Thursday.
Forecasters still expect the storm to cause life-threatening flooding, property damage and disruptions to commerce and travel. Several inches of rain are expected from the storm in the south-eastern US into Friday, according to the National Hurricane Center in Miami.
Arthur is the first tropical storm of the season in the Atlantic basin. It is expected to continue weakening as it moves across south-eastern Texas and western Louisiana before crossing the south-east US.
Maximum sustained winds were about 35mph (55km/h). All coastal watches and warnings were discontinued on Wednesday, but flooding is likely through Friday over parts of Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Georgia and the Florida Panhandle, the hurricane center said.
Some communities in Louisiana and Mississippi were distributing sand bags to residents and cleared debris from drainage systems ahead of the storm.
“The main threat from Arthur is going to be a prolonged, multiday, heavy rainfall event that could produce dangerous to life-threatening flash flooding,” the National Hurricane Center director, Michael Brennan, said.
“A significant flood risk exists each day this week, shifting slowly eastward from Texas into Wednesday to Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Georgia during the second half of the week,” said Dan DePodwin, AccuWeather vice-president of forecast operations.
Arthur has expected rainfall totals of 5-10in (13-25cm), with isolated higher totals near 20in.
“A High Risk for Excessive Rainfall has been issued for portions of the Central Gulf Coast today. High Risks are not issued lightly & indicate the potential for both widespread & life-threatening flash flooding,” stated the National Weather Service weather prediction center. “NEVER walk or drive into flood waters. Turn around, don’t drown!”
Swells generated by the storm are expected to cause life-threatening surf and rip-current conditions along the north-western Gulf coast over the next couple of days, said forecasters, with tornadoes possible through Thursday.
