Tropical Storm Edouard strengthens as it nears Louisiana, Texas coasts

Tropical Storm Edouard has formed off the Gulf Coast of Texas and Louisiana and is threatening to bring heavy rain and windy conditions to both states, the National Hurricane Center warned Monday evening. It’s expected to reach the northwestern Gulf Coast on Tuesday, forecasters said.

Edouard is the fifth tropical storm so far during the 2026 Atlantic hurricane season.

A tropical storm warning is in effect from Texas’ Port Bolivar to Louisiana’s Vermilion/Cameron Parish Line, according to the hurricane center, which is based in Miami.

Forecasters predict the system will dump 3 to 6 inches of rain on parts of coastal Texas and some inland areas in east-central parts of the state, with up to 9 inches of rainfall possible in certain places. Southwestern Louisiana was expected to see 2 to 3 inches, the National Hurricane Center said. 

Forecasters warned heavy rain in both states “could produce flash flooding, especially in low-lying and urban areas.” Up to 3 feet of possible storm surge in coastal areas was also a concern. 

Communities are placed under tropical storm warnings when conditions, including strong winds, rain and flooding, are expected to take shape within the warning area — in this case, within 24 hours.

The storm was traveling slowly westward Monday evening, with its location centered about 140 miles southeast of Cameron, Louisiana, and 175 miles southeast of Port Arthur, Texas. 

It had maximum sustained winds of 40 mph — just above the minimum speed of 39 mph that officially qualifies it as a tropical storm. Forecasters said it was expected to strengthen somewhat over the course of the next day or so.