A disturbance expected to become Tropical Storm Arthur could drench the entire Gulf Coast this week and bring up to 10 inches of rain to some spots, National Weather Service forecasters said Tuesday.
Major roads had already flooded in Picayune, and between 5 and 8 inches of rain had fallen by Tuesday afternoon. The slow-moving system is forecast to move offshore and strengthen to a tropical storm Wednesday before coming back ashore near the Texas-Louisiana border by early Thursday.
The most severe rains are forecast for the Lafayette area and the Mississippi Gulf Coast, and widespread totals of 4 to 6 inches are likely across the region. As with any tropical system, any change in the predicted path will change where the heaviest rains fall. Winds could be up to 40 mph…