Extreme weather swept across the United States on Wednesday, with Texas bracing for the first tropical storm of the hurricane season and the Northeast still suffering from scorching heat.
South Texas is expected to be hit by a powerful storm Wednesday night into Thursday, which could cause significant flooding., According to forecasters.
The weather system, currently named “Potential Tropical Depression No. 1,” is expected to strengthen before making landfall on the Gulf Coast early Thursday and be renamed “Tropical Storm Alberto.”
Tropical storm warnings were issued for the Texas coast from San Luis Pass to the mouth of the Rio Grande, with high winds and 10 to 15 inches of rain expected in Corpus Christi. State officials have launched a major emergency response in anticipation of widespread flooding.
The National Weather Center in Houston said at 4:30 a.m. CST (5:30 a.m. ET) that there were already reports of coastal flooding as the rain moves inland.
“The disturbance is so large that it could cause rainfall, coastal flooding and strong winds far from the center, including along the Texas coast and northeastern Mexico,” the National Hurricane Center said in an update.
The hurricane center also said life-threatening landslides were possible in highlands in northern Mexico, including around the cities of Monterrey and Ciudad Victoria, early Wednesday morning.
On Tuesday night, Texas Governor Greg Abbott ordered the State Emergency Management Agency to place the Texas Emergency Operations Center on Level 2 readiness and begin operating around the clock.
“As Texas prepares for severe tropical weather, we are mobilizing all necessary personnel and resources to assist Texans and communities that may be affected by excessive rain and flooding,” he said in a statement.
The Texas A&M University Forest Service has mobilized four teams of 100 personnel and 24 vehicles, while the Texas National Guard is deploying three platoons totaling more than 40 personnel along with 20 vehicles, including a Chinook helicopter.
The Japan Meteorological Agency urged residents in affected areas to stockpile five to seven days’ worth of food, water and other necessities.
The storm warning comes after 71 million people were under some form of heat watch or warning on Wednesday, with the heatwaves expected to continue into Friday.
