A city in southern Texas received more than its average monthly rainfall on Wednesday, and more is expected as Tropical Storm Alberto made landfall in Mexico early Thursday morning.
National Weather Service (NWS) meteorologists issued a slew of advisories along the coasts of Texas and Louisiana as Tropical Storm Alberto sent rough waters and foul weather miles away from the storm's center. The system is the first tropical storm of what many experts have predicted will be a very active hurricane season.
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According to the National Hurricane Center (NHC), the storm's maximum sustained winds in Mexico were documented at 50 miles per hour. However, the NHC stressed that people near the storm shouldn't focus on the forecast path, as the storm is very large and could bring impacts such as rainfall, flooding, and wind far from its center, including in Texas.
After a heavy day of rain on Wednesday, Brownsville, Texas, saw more than 4 inches of rain in some spots, exceeding its average monthly rainfall of 3.86 inches. According to the NWS office in Brownsville, some lingering rain was expected on Thursday, with around half an inch forecast for Brownsville and 1.5 inches forecast in surrounding areas.
Newsweek reached out to NWS Brownsville by phone for comment.
"Rainfall associated with Tropical Storm Alberto will begin to diminish today across southern Texas," the NHC said. "Rainfall associated with Alberto, however, will continue to impact large regions of Central America, north across northeastern Mexico. This rainfall will likely produce considerable flash and urban flooding along with new and renewed river flooding."
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As of Thursday morning at around 7:20 a.m. Eastern time, there were some lingering weather advisories in place in southern Texas related to the tropical storm, including a tornado watch, a flood warning, and a tropical storm warning, among others.
"Even with Alberto making landfall, some hazards are still expected to linger through today and possibly into tomorrow," the NWS tropical storm warning said. "Beach and marine conditions are expected to remain hazardous through today and tomorrow. This includes coastal flooding up to 3 feet, deadly rip current, high surf, and isolated gusty winds and low visibilities in isolated heavy showers and thunderstorms. Another 2-4 inches of rainfall is also possible today."
The heavy rainfall could benefit Texas's drought, which is documented as severe for more than 93 percent of Cameron County where Brownsville is located. The most recent U.S. Drought Monitor Map was issued on Thursday but only includes data through Tuesday, before the bulk of the rain arrived.
About the writer
Anna Skinner is a Newsweek senior reporter based in Indianapolis. Her focus is reporting on the climate, environment and weather ... Read more
