First Tropical Storm Alberto Threatens Texas with Severe Flooding
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Tropical Storm Alberto, the first tropical storm of the hurricane season, has formed over the western Gulf of Mexico and is expected to hit Texas and Mexico. With high risks of severe flooding and high winds, tornadoes are also possible across parts of Texas and life-threatening mudslides are likely in higher areas of northern Mexico. In anticipation of the storm, Texas has engaged a large-scale emergency response, including the activation of emergency management teams, the Texas A&M Forest Service, and the Texas National Guard.
Texas and Mexico on Alert as First Tropical Storm of Hurricane Season Looms
Tropical Storm Alberto, the first storm of the hurricane season, threatens the Gulf Coast of Texas and Mexico with severe flooding and high winds. Announced by the National Hurricane Center on Wednesday, Alberto formed over the western Gulf of Mexico, generating winds near 40 miles per hour.
The storm is set to strengthen slightly before hitting northeast Mexico’s coast early Thursday. Once Alberto moves inland, it is predicted to weaken quickly and likely dissipate over Mexico by late Thursday.
As of Wednesday afternoon, Alberto was approximately 295 miles southeast of Brownsville, Texas, moving at a rate of 9 miles per hour. The National Hurricane Center warned of possible tornadoes across parts of Texas. Significant rainfall is anticipated, with up to 10 inches expected across northeast Mexico and South Texas. Areas including Coahuila, Nuevo Leon, and Tamaulipas could face up to 20 inches.
Warnings for the tropical storm have been issued along the Texas coast, from the San Luis Pass to the mouth of the Rio Grande. High winds and rainfall of 10 to 15 inches are expected in Corpus Christi, prompting a large-scale emergency response from the state government.
By early Wednesday morning, reports of coastal flooding were already surfacing as rain began moving inland. The National Hurricane Center underscored the large scale of the disturbance, with impacts likely to occur far from the storm’s center along the Texan and northeastern Mexican coasts. Life-threatening mudslides in northern Mexico’s higher areas, including Monterrey and Ciudad Victoria, were also predicted.
In response to the looming storm, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has activated the Texas State Emergency Operations Center to operate on a 24-hour schedule. The governor has called for the mobilization of all necessary resources and personnel to support communities potentially impacted by heavy rain and flooding.
Emergency response teams from the Texas A&M Forest Service and the Texas National Guard have been activated, while residents in affected areas have been advised to stockpile five to seven days’ worth of food, water, and other essentials. This storm warning coincides with a severe heat wave affecting 71 million people across the country, which is expected to last through Friday.
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