Tropical Storm Alberto, the first named storm of the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season, has materialized over the Western Gulf of Mexico, the US National Hurricane Center (NHC) announced.

Positioned roughly 185 miles (300 kilometers) east of Tampico, Mexico, the storm exhibits maximum sustained winds at 40mph (65km/h), as noted by the Miami-based forecaster on Wednesday.

Alberto, bringing robust winds, torrential rainfall, and occasional flooding to the Texas and Mexico coastlines, is predicted to make landfall in northern Mexico by Thursday.

“The significant aspect of tropical storms remains the heavy rainfall and water,” stated Michael Brennan, the NHC director.

Brennan projected that wind speeds might escalate to 45mph (72km/h) to 50mph (80km/h) before landfall occurs.

Expected rainfall along the Texas coast ranges from five inches (13 centimeters) to 10 inches (25 centimeters), with potentially higher isolated amounts, Brennan reported.

Brennan highlighted that some elevated areas in Mexico could witness up to 20 inches (50cm) of rain, triggering mudslides and flash floods, particularly in the states of Tamaulipas, Coahuila, and Nuevo Leon.

Alberto is currently moving westward at nine miles per hour (15km/h). Tropical storm warnings are active from the Texas coast at San Luis Pass extending southward to the mouth of the Rio Grande and from northeastern Mexico’s coast south of the mouth of the Rio Grande to Tecolutla.

“Rapid weakening is expected after the center moves inland, and Alberto is likely to dissipate over Mexico” by Thursday, stated the NHC.

The US National Weather Service (NWS) indicated that the primary threat for southern coastal Texas is flooding due to excessive rainfall. On Wednesday, the NWS noted a “high probability” of flash flooding in southern coastal Texas. Tornadoes or waterspouts are also conceivable.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration forecasts that the hurricane season, having started on June 1 and lasting until November 30, will be significantly above average, predicting between 17 and 25 named storms. The outlook includes up to 13 hurricanes and four major hurricanes.

An average Atlantic hurricane season typically results in 14 named storms, seven of which are hurricanes, including three major hurricanes.