5 months ago
23
The first tropical storm of the hurricane season is heading for Texas threatening the Gulf Coast with severe flooding and high winds. The National Hurricane Center Wednesday announced the advent of Alberto, as it has been named. The storm was located about 185 miles (300 km) east of Tampico, Mexico, packing maximum sustained winds of 40 mph (65 kph), the Miami-based forecaster said.
Alberto
is likely to dissipate over Mexico Thursday or Thursday night.
The storm is expected to produce rainfall totals of 5 to 10 inches (about 13 to 25 centimetres) across northeast Mexico into South Texas. Maximum totals around 20 inches (51 centimetres) are possible across the higher terrain of the Mexican states of Coahuila, Nuevo Leon, and Tamaulipas. Flash flooding is likely, and mudslides are possible in some areas, the centre said.
The US National Weather Service said the main hazard for southern coastal Texas is flooding from excess rain. Eight inches (20 centimetres) of rain or more could fall by Saturday morning. On Wednesday, the NWS said, there is "a high probability" of flash flooding in southern coastal Texas. Tornadoes or waterspouts are possible.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration predicts the hurricane season that began June 1 and runs through November 30 is likely to be well above average, with between 17 and 25 named storms. The forecast calls for as many as 13 hurricanes and four major hurricanes.
An average Atlantic hurricane season produces 14 named storms, seven of them hurricanes and three major hurricanes. A no-name storm earlier in June dumped more than 20 inches (50 centimetres) of rain on parts of South Florida, stranding numerous motorists on flooded streets and pushing water into some homes in low-lying areas.
