Tropical Storm Arthur was named and dissipated within 24 hours after moving over the southeastern Texas coast on June 18. It still caused more than $1 billion in damage across the Gulf Coast and four deaths.
Yale Climate Connections said the storm’s losses came largely from flooding far to the east of the center at landfall. For readers on the Gulf Coast, the storm’s short life meant little time between the first advisory and the damage total that followed.
Central Louisiana rainfall
Cottonport in central Louisiana set a preliminary state record for 24-hour rainfall of 29.06, the clearest sign of how far Arthur’s rain shield extended beyond the coast. Tropical Storm Arthur eases Houston flooding risks Wednesday tied the storm to flooding concerns that moved well away from the coast.
That kind of rain pattern is why a storm can fade quickly and still leave a large loss figure. The center weakens, but the rain can keep falling on places outside the track that most people first watch.
Atlantic Basin and Eastern Pacific
The broader forecast discussion pointed to more tropical activity in the Atlantic Basin and Eastern Pacific, with the Eastern Pacific already at five named tropical systems, all tropical storms. NOAA forecast up to 22 named systems there this season, and the fifth named storm normally forms by July 23 on average.
The Eastern Pacific was also about nine days ahead of schedule for that fifth named storm, and the second hurricane there normally forms on July 15 on average. Tropical Storm Boris made landfall in southern Mexico, brought torrential rains and flooding, caused four deaths, and left at least $81 million in estimated damage, while Tropical Storm Cristina led to seven deaths in Central America and about $150,000 in damage.
Tropical Storm Elida
Tropical Storm Elida was likely to become the first hurricane of the Eastern Pacific by Thursday evening, remain a hurricane through Saturday, and become a post-tropical system by early next week. The next name on the Eastern Pacific list was Fausto.
For people in southeastern Texas and along the Gulf Coast, Arthur is the reminder that the shortest-lived storm can still leave the most expensive footprint, especially when the rain falls well away from landfall.
