- Tropical Storm Alberto formed late Wednesday morning in the southwestern Gulf of Mexico.
- Flooding rain, coastal flooding, gusty winds, high surf, rip currents and isolated tornadoes are threats in Texas.
- Flooding rain and mudslides are also likely in parts of Mexico.
Tropical Storm Alberto may strengthen slightly before it moves into Mexico Thursday. Impacts will extend far from the center with heavy rain, coastal flooding, rip currents, high surf and isolated tornado impacts spreading into parts of Texas.
Here’s where this system is located now and where it’s headed: Alberto’s center will pass over the Mexican coastline Thursday morning a couple hundred miles south of Brownsville, Texas, and is moving generally to the west. Alberto strengthened slightly Wednesday evening.
Alberto formed a few hundred miles south-southeast of Brownsville, Texas, late Wednesday morning.
Impacts continue to spread far to the system’s north across Texas. Below is a look at the latest radar showing where this system is producing rainfall right now.
Here’s where tropical storm alerts are in effect: A tropical storm warning has been issued for the Texas coast from San Luis Pass southward to the mouth of the Rio Grande. A tropical storm warning also extends southward from there into northeast Mexico.
This means tropical storm conditions (winds 39 mph or greater) are expected in the warning area into early Thursday. Wind gusts between 40 and 50 mph have been reported so far.
(Further beef up your forecast with our detailed, hour-by-hour breakdown for the next 8 days – only available on our Premium Pro experience.)
Flooding rain threat: Heavy rainfall in Texas and northeast Mexico will be the most widespread impact from this system. Totals from South Texas into northeast Mexico could be 5 to 10 inches, with locally higher amounts possible. As of Wednesday evening, the Rockport, Texas, area reported 9.55 inches of rainfall already.
Flash flooding is a possibility in South Texas, and Mexico faces a serious flooding and mudslide threat.
Here’s a general timeline for the heaviest rain in Texas:
- Through early Thursday: South Texas, including Brownsville and Corpus Christi.
- Thursday: South Texas westward along the Rio Grande to the Big Bend region.
Storm surge, rip currents, high surf and tornadoes are also threats. Persistent east winds to the north of Alberto will continue to generate swells that push toward the Texas and Mexico coasts.
Minor to moderate coastal flooding is expected through midweek, especially at times of high tide. Storm surge could peak at 2 to 4 feet along a part of the upper Texas coast, including Galveston Bay, if the peak surge coincides with high tide.
Be aware of this threat in locations prone to storm surge and do not try to drive through flooded roads. Beachgoers should stay out of the ocean because of the rip current danger.
In addition, tornadoes cannot be ruled out over South Texas through early Thursday. A tornado watch is in effect.
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