The National Hurricane Center announced that a tropical storm has formed, bringing heavy rains and gusty winds. This marks the first named storm of the anticipated 2024 hurricane season.
Tropical Storm Alberto has sustained winds of 40 mph with higher gusts and is currently located 185 miles east of Tampico, Mexico. It is moving westward at 9 mph as of 10 a.m. CT on Wednesday. Forecasts predict that Alberto will make landfall early Thursday as a tropical storm near the U.S. and Mexico border.
Tropical storm warnings are in effect from San Luis Pass, Texas, to Tecolutla, Mexico, indicating that tropical storm conditions are likely within the next 36 hours.
In addition to strong winds, the National Hurricane Center warns of 5 to 10 inches of rain in northeast Mexico and South Texas.
Along the Texas coast, a storm surge of 2-4 feet is expected, while a water rise of 1-3 feet is possible along the Louisiana coast. Forecasters also caution about the potential for tornadoes in South Texas on Wednesday and Thursday.
Earlier, NOAA projected an active Atlantic hurricane season for 2024, with 17 to 25 tropical storms, eight to 13 hurricanes, and four to seven major hurricanes. If this forecast holds true, 2024 could see one of the busiest hurricane seasons on record.
NOAA emphasized that storms like Alberto can be incredibly dangerous, with freshwater flooding posing a significant risk. This type of flooding is a leading cause of fatalities during tropical systems.
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