CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — A massive storm moving across the Gulf of Mexico strengthened Wednesday to become Tropical Storm Alberto, the first named storm of the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season, with parts of Texas bracing for about a foot of rain. Parts of Mexico could see up to 20 inches of rain.
The National Hurricane Center issued a tropical storm warning for the Texas coast from San Luis Pass south to the mouth of the Rio Grande, and Gov. Greg Abbott activated three platoons of the Texas National Guard, including more than 40 personnel, 20 vehicles and a Chinook helicopter.
“Due to the large area and slow-moving nature of this storm, some hazards will be felt in South Texas through Thursday,” the National Weather Service in Corpus Christi warned.
The weather service said the causes included flash flooding, coastal and river flooding, rip currents and wind gusts of more than 50 mph. In Corpus Christi, several roads were already closed Wednesday as waters rose as the storm approached, and the state Department of Transportation’s online highway condition map showed multiple warnings for flooded roads across the region.
Alberto is the first named storm in what is expected to be a particularly active hurricane season in the Atlantic, including storms in the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean.
Alberto also marks an unusually late start to the season, the latest since 2014, when the first storm of the year, Arthur, formed on June 30.
Mexico fears landslides, 20 inches of rain
Forecasters say Alberto is expected to bring rainfall totals of 5 to 10 inches from northeastern Mexico into southern Texas. Up to 20 inches of rain is expected in the highlands of the Mexican states of Coahuila, Nuevo Leon, and Tamaulipas. Forecasters say the storm could cause significant flash flooding and urban flooding, in addition to new river flooding. Landslides are also a possibility in the highlands of northeastern Mexico.
Coahuila Governor Manolo Jimenez Salinas said he was coordinating with the Mexican military and National Guard.
Where is Alberto now?
As of 2:00 pm EDT, Tropical Storm Alberto was centered 295 miles south-southeast of Brownsville, Texas. The storm had maximum sustained sustained winds of 40 mph and was moving west at 9 mph, according to the Hurricane Center. It was forecast to strengthen slightly before making landfall along the northeast coast of Mexico early Thursday.
Alberto is a large storm, with tropical storm-force winds of up to 415 miles, but the storm is expected to weaken quickly as it moves inland, and Alberto could dissipate over Mexico by Thursday night.
Alberto brings life-threatening waves to Texas coast
Tornadoes are possible in parts of South and Southeast Texas through Thursday, according to the hurricane center. Storm surges of up to 4 feet are expected in parts of Texas. Alberto’s swells could cause “life-threatening rough seas and low tide conditions” along the Texas coast and northeastern Mexico through Friday, the hurricane center said.
“A storm surge could produce large, destructive waves along the coast,” the hurricane center warned.
Record Predictions:NOAA’s 2024 hurricane season forecast is different from previous years
An active season is predicted
Federal forecasters last month predicted an “exceptional” season that could see up to 25 named storms.
That’s the most storms predicted in the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s preseason forecast. “All the ingredients are in place for an active season,” National Weather Service Director Ken Graham said at a press conference in Washington, DC.
NOAA Administrator Rick Spinrad said the Atlantic hurricane season is shaping up to be “extraordinary,” with an 85 percent chance of above-normal storms. “This forecast is the best NOAA has ever issued for the month of May,” Spinrad said at a press conference.
Drought relief may be on its way to the Southeast
AccuWeather reports that a series of showers and thunderstorms east of the Bahamas could move across the east coast of Florida, southeastern Alabama and South Carolina, bringing much-needed moisture to the region. One to two inches of rain could fall along the Southeast Coast late Thursday night into Saturday. If the system strengthens into a tropical storm, it will be named Beryl.
“Regardless of whether development occurs, this feature could produce areas of high surf, gusty winds, heavy rain and thunderstorms along the southeast coast,” AccuWeather meteorologist Andrew Kientzle said.
Record heatwaves in the Midwest and East
While Texas was dealing with Alberto, much of the country was struggling with record-breaking heat. More than 90 million Americans faced heat watches, warnings or advisories on Wednesday, mostly in the upper Midwest and Northeast. The National Weather Service warned that records could be broken from Michigan to Maine. The heat could linger in some places, and “several monthly records could be broken,” the service warned.
“New York State, it’s dangerously hot outside,” Gov. Kathy Hawkle said on social media. “If you need help staying cool today, find a cooling center near you.”
In Washington, D.C., weekend temperatures could approach 100 degrees F. In Caribou, Maine, where the highest temperature recorded dates back to 1939, a new record was already set on Wednesday.
“The heat index in Caribou is currently at 103 degrees,” the weather service said in a social media post. “This is an unofficial all-time record.”
