Meteorologists warned on Wednesday that the first tropical storm of the Atlantic hurricane season, named Arthur, has formed near the Gulf Coast, threatening states including Texas and Louisiana with intense rainfall and dangerous flash floods.
The National Hurricane Center in Miami indicated that conditions were conducive for the short-lived tropical storm to develop from a disorganised cluster of storms that had already brought days of rain over parts of eastern Mexico and the Gulf. Michael Brennan, director of the National Hurricane Center, underscored the severity of the situation, stating: "The main threat from Arthur is going to be a prolonged, multiday, heavy rainfall event that could produce dangerous to life threatening flash flooding."
