Tropical Storm Arthur Update for Southwest Louisiana

Lake Charles, Louisiana - We officially have our first named storm of the 2026 Atlantic Hurricane Season. Tropical Storm Arthur formed on Wednesday morning near the Texas coast as Southwest Louisiana prepares for heavy rain, possible flooding, and coastal impacts. Here's the latest update from our friends at KPLC and the National Weather Service-Lake Charles.

According to the National Hurricane Center, Arthur has maximum sustained winds of 40 mph and was moving northeast at about 9 mph. The storm is expected to move into Southwest Louisiana on Wednesday night.

A Tropical Storm Warning remains in effect along the Louisiana coastline, including parts of Cameron Parish.

Strong wind shear has pushed the heaviest rain farther east, meaning areas away from the center could still see heavy downpours.

What Can SWLA Residents Expect?

Throughout Wednesday, Southwest Louisiana can expect periods of showers and tropical rain bands. Some of those storms could bring heavy rain in a short amount of time, which could lead to flooding. According to KPLC, most areas are expected to receive 1 to 4 inches of rain, with higher totals possible along the coastline. Some isolated spots could see even more if a strong rain band stays over one area.

Some areas along the Cameron coastline could see wind gusts around 20 to 30 mph, with stronger gusts possible near Cameron.

The good news is that the worst of the rain threat is expected to move east as Arthur moves away slowly. By Thursday, Southwest Louisiana should begin to see improving weather, with some sunshine returning and only a few leftover showers possible.

REMINDER: Your best source of information is your local meteorologists here in Southwest Louisiana. Be sure to follow KPLC 7 Weather, Wade Hampton KPLC, Jacob Durham KPLC, Max Lagano KPLC, and the folks at the National Weather Service in Lake Charles.