Edouard weakens to tropical depression as heavy rain continues over southeastern Texas

The former tropical storm Edouard weakened to a tropical depression Tuesday night as wind and heavy rainfall continued to sweep southeastern Texas, the National Hurricane Center said. 

Edouard had maximum sustained winds of 35 mph Tuesday night, decreasing from about 60 mph when it made landfall near Johnson Bayou, Louisiana, close to the border with Texas, at 2:20 p.m. Central Time, the hurricane center said. 

Earlier, forecasters warned that the storm could bring near-hurricane conditions to some areas along the U.S. Gulf Coast.

Maps show storm’s path and forecast

A tropical storm warning was in effect from High Island, Texas, to Cameron, Louisiana, but the hurricane center discontinued it in its latest update.  

The depression was moving toward the northwest at about 8 mph on Tuesday night and is expected to continue for the next day or so, the hurricane center said. The center of Edouard will continue moving inland over southeastern and eastern Texas through Wednesday.

Strong thunderstorms were expected to bring powerful wind gusts and dump heavy rain, with 3 to 6 inches possible along the Texas coast and inland, and some areas could get up to 9 inches. 

A hurricane watch and storm surge watch that had been issued earlier were discontinued Tuesday, but the hurricane center still warned that coastlines could see rising water levels and possible flooding.

Forecasters warned heavy rain in both states “could produce flash flooding, especially in low-lying and urban areas.”

Texas, Louisiana residents ride out the storm

As Edouard stormed ashore along the Texas-Louisiana border,  many residents decided to stay put and ride out the storm, but some chose to seek shelter elsewhere.

“You can’t stay in a travel trailer, an RV, because the wind gusts can knock you over,” Karen Cauthen, a Port Arthur, Texas, resident, told CBS News. “It doesn’t make sense to me.”

Edouard’s winds also whipped at homes in Holly Beach, Louisiana, an area that has taken a beating from several tropical storms over the last few years.

The storm is forecast to rapidly weaken and dissipate by Wednesday night.

Edouard is the fifth tropical storm so far during the 2026 Atlantic hurricane season.