Tropical Storm Alberto formed Wednesday in the southwestern Gulf of Mexico, the first named storm expected to be a storm Busy hurricane season.
Alberto, which is bringing strong winds, heavy rain and some flooding along the Texas and Mexican coasts, is expected to make landfall in northern Mexico on Thursday.
“Heavy rain and water, as usual, are the biggest story in tropical storms,” said Michael Brennan, director of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Hurricane Center.
Alberto is located 185 miles (about 300 km) east of Tampico, Mexico and 295 miles (about 480 km) southeast of Brownsville, Texas. Maximum wind speeds were 40 mph (65 kph), according to the National Hurricane Center in Miami. A tropical storm is defined by sustained winds between 39 and 73 mph (62 and 117 km/h), above which the system becomes a hurricane.
Brennan said winds could reach 45 mph (72 km/h) to 50 mph (80 km/h) before the storm makes landfall.
Up to 5 inches (13 cm) to 10 inches (25 cm) of rain is expected in some areas along the Texas coast, with isolated higher totals possible, Brennan said. Some high-altitude locations in Mexico could see up to 20 inches (50 cm) of rain, which could lead to mudslides and flash flooding, especially in the states of Tamaulipas, Coahuila and Nuevo León, he said.
At the Miramar Inn hotel in Tampico, Mexico, near where Alberto was expected to hit the beach, receptionist Diana Flores said the winds were gusty, but still not strong, and the rain had not yet started. “There are people in the restaurant and on the beach,” Flores said early Wednesday.
Heavy rain fell in parts of Tamaulipas state in the northeastern corner of Mexico overnight.
The storm was moving west at 9 mph (15 km/h). Tropical storm warnings were in effect from the Texas coast at the San Luis Pass south to the mouth of the Rio Grande and from the northeastern coast of Mexico south of the mouth of the Rio Grande to Tecolotla.
“Rapid weakening is expected once the center moves inland, and Alberto is likely to dissipate over Mexico” on Thursday, the center said.
The US National Weather Service said the main danger for the south Texas coast is flooding caused by heavy rains. The National Weather Service said Wednesday there was a “high probability” of flash flooding on the south Texas coast. Tornadoes or water cannons are possible.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) expects the hurricane season, which began June 1 and continues through November 30, to be well above average, with between 17 and 25 named storms. The forecast calls for up to 13 hurricanes and four major hurricanes.
The average Atlantic hurricane season produces 14 named storms, seven of which are hurricanes and three major hurricanes.
The first named system in the Atlantic will arrive on average on June 20, so Alberto is “right on schedule,” Brennan said.
a A storm without a name Earlier in June, more than 20 inches (50 cm) of rain fell on parts of South Florida, stranding many motorists on flooded streets and pushing water into some homes in low-lying areas.
Brennan said there will be dangerous storm surge currents and drivers should watch out for road closures and turn around if they see water covering the roads.
“People underestimate the power of water, and sometimes they don't always take rainfall and the threats that come with it seriously, especially if you're driving in an area and you see water covering the road, you don't want to drive in it,” Brennan said. “You don't know how deep it is.” Water. The road may be washed out. It only takes a few inches of water to move your car.