The National Hurricane Center said the first tropical storm of the Atlantic season is expected to form over the Gulf of Mexico on Wednesday, with an 80% chance of the disturbance gaining popularity. The name Alberto,
Forecasters said it could bring heavy rain, coastal flooding and strong winds to the coasts of Texas and northeastern Mexico through Thursday. Alberto is expected to reach the Mexican coast late Wednesday night or early Thursday morning. On Wednesday morning, the National Hurricane Center said the storm system was “moving” toward the region at about 8 mph. The National Weather Service said early rain had begun in Texas and that the rain could impact the I-35 highway later in the day.
A tropical storm warning was issued for the Texas coast from San Luis Pass south to the mouth of the Rio Grande and for the northeastern coast of Mexico from the mouth of the Rio Grande to Puerto de Altamira.
Satellite image of Potential Tropical Cyclone One over the southwestern Gulf of Mexico this afternoon and evening. Associated rain bands are expected to reach south-central Texas on Wednesday. pic.twitter.com/zRLO2jXoLI
— NWS Austin/San Antonio (@NWSSanAntonio) June 19, 2024
Rainfall amounts of 5 to 10 inches are expected from northeastern Mexico to southern Texas, with totals of up to 15 inches, and could possibly result in “considerable flooding in rural and urban areas, as well as new river flooding. Landslides are also possible in higher elevations of northeastern Mexico,” meteorologists said. Storm surges of up to four feet could be expected along parts of the Texas coast.
The National Weather Service said Wednesday morning that overall rainfall had eased. Most areas could expect 1 to 3 inches of rain, but locally, 4 inches or more was possible, the forecast center said. Flood warnings remain in effect until Thursday.
Overall rainfall amounts have eased, but more rain is still falling in the southernmost parts of the region, where flood warnings remain in place from today through Thursday. Rainfall amounts will generally range between 1-3 inches, but locally more than 4 inches is still possible. #txwx pic.twitter.com/ETZoYVjqrD
— NWS Austin/San Antonio (@NWSSanAntonio) June 19, 2024
The hurricane center said the disturbance was “very large” Wednesday morning, with tropical storm-force winds extending up to 415 miles north of the system's center.
As of 4 a.m., its center was about 315 miles southeast of Brownsville, Texas, and was moving west-northwest at 8 mph, with maximum sustained winds of 40 mph.
The hurricane center upgraded the season's first tropical storm warning to a tropical storm warning at 4 a.m. CT on Tuesday. Three hours later, Mexico's government issued a tropical storm warning for parts of the country's northeastern coast, from just south of the mouth of the Rio Grande to Puerto de Altamira, replacing a tropical storm warning previously in effect there. The difference is due to timing — forecasters typically issue a “watch” when tropical storm conditions are possible in the affected area within about 48 hours, and issue a “warning” when conditions become more imminent, about 36 hours in advance.
Atlantic hurricane season The season officially begins on June 1 and runs through the end of November, with most storm activity typically occurring in the months following that period, between mid-August and mid-October. The terms hurricane and tropical cyclone may refer to the same kind of stormAccording to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, meteorologists use tropical cyclone as a broad classification that includes any meteorological phenomenon where a rotating, low-level cloud system and thunderstorms occur over tropical or subtropical waters.
A tropical cyclone is more specifically classified as a tropical storm when its maximum wind speed exceeds 39 mph. When sustained winds reach 74 mph or more, it is called a tropical storm. becomes a storm,