Tuesday, June 16 update from the NHC: Latest on the Potential Tropical Cyclone
Article first published: Tuesday, June 16, 2026, 11 a.m. ET
Article last updated: Tuesday, June 16, 2026, 2 p.m. ET
System type: Potential tropical cyclone
According to the National Hurricane Center's 2 p.m. Tuesday advisory, the potential tropical cyclone is 55 miles south-southwest of Corpus Christi, Texas and 345 miles southwest of Lake Charles Louisiana. With maximum sustained winds of 30 mph, the system is moving northeast at 6 mph.
"The disturbance is forecast to gradually strengthen and could become a tropical storm early on Wednesday," forecasters observed.
Watch currently in effect
Tropical Storm Watch for Sargent to Morgan City
Meaning of the watch
A Tropical Storm Watch means that tropical storm conditions are possible within the watch area, in this case within 24 to 36 hours.
Hazards affecting land
Rainfall. Potential Tropical Cyclone One is expected to produce rainfall totals of 4 to 8 inches with isolated higher totals around 12 inches through Thursday from the Mid to Upper Texas Coast through much of Louisiana, central and southern portions of Mississippi and Alabama, and the far western portion of the Florida Panhandle. This could generate dangerous to life-threatening flash flooding.
For a complete forecast of rainfall associated with Potential Tropical Cyclone One, please see the National Weather Service Storm Total Rainfall Graphic available at hurricanes.gov/graphics_at1.shtml?rainqpf and the Flash Flood Risk graphic at hurricanes.gov/graphics_at1.shtml?ero
For a list of rainfall observations (and wind reports) associated this potential tropical cyclone, see the companion storm summary at WBCSCCNS1 with the WMO header ACUS44 KWBC or at the following link: www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/discussions/nfdscc1.html
Wind. Tropical storm conditions are possible within the watch area beginning early Wednesday.
Storm surge. The combination of a dangerous storm surge and the tide will cause normally dry areas near the coast to be flooded by rising waters moving inland from the shoreline. The water could reach the following heights above ground somewhere in the indicated areas if the peak surge occurs at the time of high tide...
Port Bolivar, TX to Morgan City, LA...2-4 ft
The deepest water will occur along the immediate coast near and to the east of the landfall location, where the surge will be accompanied by large and dangerous waves. Surge-related flooding depends on the relative timing of the surge and the tidal cycle, and can vary greatly over short distances.
For a complete depiction of areas at risk of storm surge inundation, please see the National Weather Service Peak Storm Surge Graphic, available at hurricanes.gov/graphics_at1.shtml?peakSurge.
Surf. Swells generated by the Potential Tropical Cyclone are likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions along the northwestern Gulf Coast for the next couple of days.
A depiction of rip current risk for the United States can be found at: hurricanes.gov/graphics_at1.shtml?ripCurrents
Tornado. A tornado or two is possible through tonight from the Upper Texas coast across southern Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and the Florida Panhandle.
Source: National Hurricane Center
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This story was originally published June 16, 2026 at 2:02 PM.