Tropical Storm Arthur forms in the Gulf. What it means for Myrtle Beach’s weather
Tropical Storm Arthur officially formed in the Gulf on Wednesday morning, becoming the first named storm of the 2026 Atlantic hurricane season.
Heavy rainfall and flooding will impact the Gulf Coast of Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Georgia, but remnants of the storm are now expected to cross the southeast, National Weather Service meteorologists say
Tropical Storm Arthur is moving northeast with sustained wind speeds of 45 miles per hour as of 12:30 p.m. Wednesday, but it is expected to quickly transition to a tropical depression (wind speeds drop to 35 to 30 miles per hour) within the next 12 to 18 hours, said Meteorologist Victoria Oliva with the NWS in Wilmington.
As the storm’s structure dissipates, the Myrtle Beach area could possibly see scattered storms Thursday evening into the early hours overnight, Oliva said.
“We are currently in a marginal risk for severe weather to cover the possibility of storms developing that might bring us some gusty winds tomorrow night,” she said.
The Myrtle Beach area is expected to see heat indices up to 105 degrees Thursday during the day. Scattered storms are expected across Myrtle Beach Friday, but could come earlier in the day than originally forecasted.
The 2026 Atlantic hurricane season forecast
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration announced in May the center is predicting eight to 14 named storms, three to six hurricanes and one to three major hurricanes (Category 3 or higher).
The predictions included a 55% chance of a below-normal season, 35% chance of a near-normal season and a 10% chance of an above-normal season.
Hurricane season starts on June 1 and lasts until Nov. 30 each year, but hurricanes can appear before or after the time frame.
This year’s season was predicted at the fate of a strengthening El Niño. El Niño and La Niña are the warm and cool phases of a natural climate pattern, which shift back and forth every two to seven years with neutral phases in between lasting months or longer.
NOAA announced an El Niño has developed and is expected to strengthen later this season. An El Niño often indicates higher Atlantic sea temperatures but increased vertical wind shear, which is unfavorable to Atlantic hurricane formation.