A tropical storm could form in the Gulf this week, possibly marking the first named storm of the Atlantic hurricane season — but regardless, Houston should brace for heavy rain.

Why it matters: The forecast puts Southeast Texas at risk of flash flooding and rising rivers and bayous and threatens to interrupt World Cup activities.

Threat level: Greater Houston could see up to 10 inches of rain regardless of whether the storm formally develops, the National Weather Service (NWS) warns. Southeast Texas is under a flood watch through Thursday morning.

• Widespread totals of 4 to 7 inches are expected, with higher amounts near 10 inches in isolated areas, NWS Houston meteorologist Cameron Self tells Axios.

What they're saying: Self says the formation of a bona fide tropical storm won't "change the forecast that much" other than potentially higher winds near the coast.

• "The primary concern is going to be the heavy rainfall regardless of development," Self says, adding that rainfall on Sunday and yesterday (up to 5 inches in parts of Harris County) means the ground is saturated and less likely to absorb any more runoff.
• Forecasters are also monitoring rivers and bayous for potential flooding, Self says.

Zoom out: The low-pressure system could develop into a "short-lived" tropical storm tomorrow into Thursday, the National Hurricane Center said yesterday afternoon.

• If so, it will be named Arthur.

Zoom in: The forecast comes as thousands of fans prepare to attend tomorrow's World Cup match between Portugal and Congo.

• FIFA's Fan Festival will operate on reduced hours (6:30-10pm) today because of the weather. Rain could also threaten activities through the week.
• Houston officials urge World Cup fans to sign up for tailored public safety alerts, including hazardous weather warnings, by texting "HOUWC26" to 888777.

State of play: Mayor John Whitmire yesterday ordered Lake Houston to be lowered to accommodate for additional rainfall, while CenterPoint Energy mobilized personnel to respond to power and gas emergencies and activated its emergency operations center.

The bottom line: The public is encouraged to text "AlertHouston" to 888777 for alerts and monitor Houston OEM and NWS Houston on social media for realtime information.

Go deeper

Fans will get face time with some of U.S. soccer's biggest names at Houston Fan Fest through the World Cup.

Why it matters: The free fan meet-and-greets give Houstonians and World Cup visitors a rare chance to meet some of the players who helped build soccer's popularity in the nation.

Schedule:

• June 19, 6:30-8pm: Geoff Cameron and Brek Shea. Cameron played for the U.S. at the 2014 World Cup, while Shea was part of the U.S. squad that won the 2013 CONCACAF Gold Cup.
• June 22, 3:30-5pm: Clint Dempsey, the East Texas native widely regarded as one of the greatest American soccer players of all time. Dempsey played in the 2006, 2010 and 2014 World Cups and is tied for the U.S. men's national team scoring record.
• June 26, 1-2:30pm: Jozy Altidore, one of the top scorers in U.S. men's national team history and a veteran of the 2010 and 2014 World Cups.
• June 30, 1:30-3pm: Cobi Jones, the U.S. men's national team's all-time leader in appearances and one of the most recognizable figures in American soccer history.
• July 5, 2-4pm: Tony Meola, one of the most accomplished goalkeepers in U.S. soccer history who represented the U.S. at the 1990, 1994 and 2002 World Cups.

What they're saying: "These legends have inspired generations of players and supporters, and we're proud to provide opportunities for fans to meet them," said Chris Canetti, president of the FIFA Houston Host Committee.

🚀 Houston-based space company Intuitive Machines is expanding with a new Baltimore-area facility. (Houston Business Journal)

👀 Houston Controller Chris Hollins has launched a formal investigation into Mayor John Whitmire's senior financial adviser, Chris Brown, and called for his suspension after a Houston Chronicle report found Brown rarely appeared at City Hall despite earning a six-figure salary. (Chron)

⚖️ The U.S. Supreme Court rejected Texas death row inmate Charles Flores' appeal. Flores argued his conviction was improperly based on a witness who changed her recollection after hypnosis performed by an investigator. (Texas Tribune)

👋 Shafaq here! Our museums and other local institutions are taking part in a new trend: dribbling a soccer ball through their spaces.

Why it matters: Houston's world class cultural destinations are saying "we're here" to World Cup visitors.

Zoom in: It appears to have started with the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, which posted a June 1 video showing a soccer ball moving through the museum and its exhibits.

• The ball then continued onto other accounts, including the Moody Center for the Arts, Rothko Chapel, the Ismaili Center, the Children's Museum Houston, and the Blaffer Art Museum.
• 👀 And from the comments, it looks like other organizations may get involved.

The bottom line: Everyone's getting creative and wants in on the global game coming to Houston. While the world comes together for the World Cup, museums and businesses are coming together through this trend.

What we're watching: Who else gets involved and what other trends emerge.