Tropical Storm Edouard Update
Disaster Alert
August 14, 2026
Source: Information provided in partnership with Verisk
Tropical Storm Edouard:
Given the possibility that Tropical Storm Edouard could intensify into a Category 1 hurricane before making landfall near the Texas and Louisiana border later today, we are providing a pre-landfall forecast and summary of expected impacts below. If the storm makes landfall as a hurricane, we will follow up with a post-event narrative. Please reach out if you have any questions.
Tropical Storm Edouard developed quickly yesterday over the northwestern Gulf, with the National Hurricane Center issuing its first advisory for the precursor system late Monday morning, August 31. By that evening, the circulation organized into a tropical depression and then strengthened into Tropical Storm Edouard. At 9:00 a.m. CDT this morning, Edouard was centered about 35 miles south of Cameron, Louisiana and 60 miles southeast of Port Arthur, Texas, moving west-northwest at a pedestrian 8 mph with maximum sustained winds of 50 mph.
Edouard is expected to strengthen this morning before reaching the upper Texas and southwest Louisiana coast later today, with the center expected to make landfall near the Louisiana–Texas border during the afternoon. The National Hurricane Center forecast brings Edouard to the coast with maximum sustained winds near 65 mph. However, there is the potential for the storm to intensify to a Category 1 hurricane today prior to landfall, as the storm’s small inner core moves through very warm Gulf sea-surface temperatures (88 °F) and little wind shear. In either case, Edouard will quickly weaken as it moves inland across southeast Texas tonight; likely becoming post-tropical Wednesday (tomorrow) and dissipating by early Thursday.
Regardless of whether Edouard becomes a weak Category 1 hurricane or a strong tropical storm, the impacts to land will remain similar. Wind impacts will be greatest near and just to the right of the landfall point, likely placing the worst impacts within the Beaumont-Port Arthur Metro Area, where tropical-storm-force winds are expected and hurricane-force conditions remain possible. The combination of strong sustained winds and higher gusts could down trees and power lines, produce power outages, and damage vulnerable structures, especially near the coast. Because Edouard is a relatively small storm, the most severe wind impacts should remain concentrated close to its center, but hazardous gusts may extend inland across portions of southeast Texas as the system moves northwest. Below is an image of the latest Respond Hurricane forecast showing maximum wind gusts of 60+ mph along the Texas and Louisiana border area. Gusts of 40+ mph extend farther inland across Beaumont and north of Houston.
Storm surge will also pose a significant coastal hazard, with a Storm Surge Warning in effect from High Island, Texas, to the Vermilion/Cameron Parish line in Louisiana, where 3-5 ft of surge will be possible. Onshore winds could drive life-threatening inundation into low-lying coastal areas, particularly near and to the right of the landfall location, with the greatest impacts expected around the time of landfall and during high tide.
Heavy rainfall is expected to be the most widespread inland hazard. Edouard is forecast to produce 3 to 6 inches of rain, with isolated totals up to 9 inches, extending from the upper Texas coast and east-central Texas into far southwest Louisiana. These amounts may cause flash flooding, particularly in urban, low-lying, and poorly drained areas, while rises on streams and rivers could lead to additional flooding after the center passes. A tornado or two is also possible this afternoon and evening across southeast Texas and southwest Louisiana, primarily within rainbands east and northeast of the storm center.