Tropical Storm Alberto brought widespread coastal flooding to southern Texas and Mexico ahead of its expected landfall. At least three people were reported killed in storm-related incidents in Nuevo León, Mexico. Tides surged beneath elevated houses in coastal cities like Surfside Beach, prompting closures and warnings to stay away. The storm, which had maximum sustained winds of 50 miles per hour, was forecasted to bring heavy rainfall of over a foot to parts of Texas and Mexico.
The National Hurricane Center warned that Alberto was a large storm with tropical-force winds extending north of its center in the Gulf of Mexico. A 700-mile stretch of coast from Galveston, Texas, to Veracruz, Mexico, was under a tropical storm warning. The city of Surfside Beach, which experienced major damage from Hurricane Nicholas in 2021, was bracing for intensifying flooding as emergency service workers remained on call. The storm was expected to make landfall near Tampico, Mexico, with its effects extending well beyond.
Key facts about Tropical Storm Alberto include heavy rain and potential flooding in southern Texas and northeastern Mexico. Rainfall totals of up to 20 inches were anticipated with the possibility of three inches per hour. Storm surges of up to four feet were expected along the coast, along with concerns for mudslides in Mexico. Temporary shelters were being set up, and electricians were deployed to respond to potential power outages in the most affected states.
Preparations were underway in Mexico as government workers and residents prepared for the incoming storm. More than 1,500 electricians were deployed to the states expected to be most impacted, and temporary shelters were being set up in anticipation of heavy rains and strong winds. The storm was seen as a welcome relief amid water crises and heat waves in some Mexican states. In Texas, Gov. Greg Abbott issued a severe-weather disaster declaration for 51 counties and activated emergency management resources.
Hurricanes and tropical storms can produce tornadoes, with warnings issued in areas far from the storm centers as Alberto approached. Tornado warnings were extended to areas along the U.S.-Mexico border in Texas, with a tornado watch in effect for a large portion of the state. Major flooding was anticipated in Houston, which is still recovering from a deadly storm the previous month. Forecasters have warned that the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season is expected to be busy, with predictions for an above-normal number of named storms. Multiple agencies have forecasted an active season with more named storms than average.
