HOUSTON — Tropical Storm Alberto formed in the Gulf of Mexico Wednesday morning, becoming the first tropical storm of the 2024 Atlantic Hurricane season, according to the National Hurricane Center.
It's been an area of interest for the NHC since late last week for the potential to develop into a tropical storm.
Alberto won't make landfall in Texas or even in the United States, but will bring rain, wind, and some flooding impacts to much of the Texas coast.
Alberto is moving west at 9 mph with 40 mph sustained winds, just barely becoming a Tropical Storm. It is expected to make landfall near Tampico, Mexico by tonight or early Thursday morning. The classification of a Tropical Storm here is just merely for record keeping as impacts won't change with this designation.
Tropical Storm warnings are in effect for the Texas coast from San Luis Pass, south to the mouth of the Rio Grande to Tecolutla. This means that tropical storm conditions are expected in these areas.
Rainfall amounts of 5-10 inches are possible across Northeast Mexico and South Texas with higher totals over a foot possible in the higher terrain of Northeast Mexico. Storm surge and high tide will cause flooding in many areas that are normally dry along the South coast of Texas.
Alberto will continue moving west through Mexico, weakening to a depression likely by Thursday evening. This will not bring any impacts to the Carolinas or East coast.