The first named storm of the hurricane season, Tropical Storm Alberto, formed over the western Gulf of Mexico on Wednesday morning and is expected to make landfall early Thursday on Mexico’s Gulf coast. The storm is large, with tropical-storm-force winds extending out 460 miles. A tropical storm warning is in effect for the northeastern coast of Mexico and the Texas coast from the mouth of the Rio Grande up to San Luis Pass, near Houston. Gov. Greg Abbott issued a disaster declaration for 51 Texas counties in preparation for the storm, which is expected to bring high winds of up to 50 mph and 10 to 15 inches of rain in Corpus Christi.
The center of Alberto was about 135 miles east-southeast of Tampico, Mexico, and around 320 miles south-southeast of Brownsville, Texas, as of 10 p.m. local time. The storm was moving west at about 9 mph, with moderate coastal flooding observed along the Texas Gulf Coast as the storm approached Mexico. Some residents, like Dustin Leeds and Kristine Martin, were experiencing thigh-high floodwaters in their homes, but seemed to be taking the situation in stride as homes in the area are raised due to flood risk and many had moved their cars to safety. The National Weather Service warned of a possible storm surge of 2 to 4 feet from Sargent, Texas, to the Sabine Pass.
On Thursday, the storm’s center is expected to move further west into Mexico and weaken, likely dissipating by Thursday night, according to the National Hurricane Center. Parts of Mexico, including Coahuila, Nuevo León, and Tamaulipas, could see maximum rainfall totals of up to 20 inches, the storm center reported. The Texas A&M Forest Service has mobilized four teams with 100 personnel and 24 vehicles, while the Texas National Guard has three platoons with over 40 personnel and 20 vehicles, including Chinook helicopters, in place to respond to the storm. The National Weather Service advised people in affected areas to have five to seven days’ supplies of food, water, and other necessities on hand.
More than 82 million people were under some form of heat advisory on Wednesday, with a heat wave expected to last through at least Friday. Officials urged residents to take precautions to stay cool and hydrated during the heat wave. Patrick Smith, Melissa Chan, Phil Helsel, Sam Brock, and Alicia Victoria Lozano contributed to the reporting on Tropical Storm Alberto and its potential impacts on Mexico and Texas. Residents in affected areas were encouraged to stay informed of the latest updates and follow recommended safety guidelines as the storm continues to progress. Stay tuned for further updates on the impact of Tropical Storm Alberto as it makes landfall and moves inland.
