Tropical Storm Alberto Hits Mexico and Texas

Alberto, the first named tropical storm of the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season, made landfall near Tampico, Mexico, causing widespread impacts across northeast Mexico and Texas. The storm, which has now weakened to a depression, brought strong winds, heavy rainfall, and significant ocean surges reaching as far north as Louisiana. In northeast Mexico, flooding rains resulted in three fatalities, and severe flash flooding is expected to continue in both Mexico and Texas. Coastal regions like Galveston Bay and Surfside Beach in Texas experienced substantial flooding, with sea levels exacerbated by human-caused climate change.
Inland areas also saw notable rainfall totals, leading to road closures and localized flooding. Despite weakening, Alberto continues to pose a threat of heavy rainfall and potential mudslides in Mexico’s higher terrains. Conditions in Texas are improving, but Mexico will likely experience relief by Thursday night or Friday. Meanwhile, meteorologists are monitoring two additional disturbances in the Atlantic, one near the northern Bahamas and another in the western Caribbean, both with potential for development.