More than two million people along the Texas Gulf Coast are under a tropical storm warning on Thursday as Tropical Storm Alberto approaches Mexico. Notably, it’s the first named storm of the Atlantic hurricane season. The storm brought heavy rain and significant storm surges.

On Wednesday, the expansive storm system caused widespread coastal flooding in southern Texas. This occurred even before the storm was expected to make landfall. In response, Mexican officials began clearing drainage points to prevent flooding and monitored dams, rivers, and streams.

In Texas, elevated houses in coastal cities, including Surfside Beach, saw tides surge beneath them starting Wednesday morning. Surfside Beach, located about 40 miles south of Galveston, was closed earlier this week and warned visitors to stay away due to worsening flooding.

The National Hurricane Center described Alberto as a large storm with tropical-force winds extending about 415 miles north of its centre in the Gulf of Mexico. As it moved west toward northeastern Mexico on Wednesday night, the storm had maximum sustained winds of around 50 miles per hour. However, the primary concern was the predicted rainfall of a foot or more in parts of Texas and Mexico.

Forecasters predicted Alberto could make landfall early Thursday near the Mexican city of Tampico. However, its effects were expected to extend far beyond that point. By Wednesday night, according to the National Hurricane Centre, a 700-mile stretch of coast from San Luis Pass near Galveston to Tecolutla in Veracruz, Mexico, was under a tropical storm warning.

Mayor Gregg Bisso of Surfside Beach reported that the city was preparing for potential intensification while flooding was slowly easing on Wednesday evening. Mayor Bisso compared the situation to when Hurricane Nicholas struck in 2021, causing major damage. “It’s a wait-and-see kind of deal,” he said, noting that all city police officers and emergency service workers were on call.

Alberto is expected to land on Mexico’s northeast coast. However, the storm’s wind and rain extend far from its center. Heavy rain will continue across much of southern Texas and northeastern Mexico, with five to ten inches likely and isolated amounts nearing 20 inches.

Forecasters predict up to three inches of rain per hour, potentially overwhelming streams and creeks. Coastal areas, including Sargent, Texas, and Galveston Bay, can expect storm surges up to four feet. In Mexico, mudslides are also a concern, particularly in hilly regions.

As tropical storm Alberto moves inland, residents along the Texas Gulf Coast and northeastern Mexico are urged to remain vigilant and heed warnings from local officials. The storm’s extensive reach and heavy rainfall pose significant risks, and authorities are on high alert to respond to emergencies.

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