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Tropical storm warnings issued for South Texas and Mexico as first storm takes shape
Satellite images show thunderstorms developing in the Gulf of Mexico Tuesday morning as the first tropical system of the year builds up. (CNN Weather)
Tropical storm warnings are in effect for parts of southern Texas and northeastern Mexico as the first tropical threat of the year approaches those areas.
This isn’t the only area of concern expected to be very active this week following the start of hurricane season.
The system threatening the southwest Gulf Coast has been designated “Potential Tropical Cyclone One” by the National Hurricane Center and is in the process of forming in the Gulf of Mexico. It will bring torrential rain and a great risk of flooding, not only in the United States, but also in parts of Mexico and Central America.
As its name suggests, Potential Tropical Cyclone One is not yet a tropical storm, but it is expected to become one and pose a threat to areas under tropical storm warnings over the next 48 hours.
The system had winds of 65 km/h on Tuesday morning, strong enough to be named Tropical Storm Alberto if it develops a coherent circulation. It is expected to do so late Tuesday night or early Wednesday before reaching the northern coast of Mexico on Wednesday.
The system’s strength will be limited due to its short time over water, but its main threat of significant rainfall and flooding will not be: Several days of torrential rain is expected across parts of Central America, southern Mexico, and the western Gulf Coast of the United States.
Heavy rain was already falling on Monday in parts of Mexico, Guatemala, Belize, El Salvador and Honduras. Heavy rains could hit these areas on Thursday. Parts of Mexico and Central America are eagerly awaiting this rain, as drought has worsened after several weeks of extreme heat. But day after day, heavy rains will overwhelm increasingly dry soils that cannot absorb water as fast as it falls, leading to dangerous flooding.
Deep tropical moisture was also fueling storms in places like the western US Gulf Coast. Double-digit rainfall is expected over parts of the coast and southern Texas over the weekend, while other parts of the Gulf Coast could see several millimeters of rain by midweek.
There’s a Level 3 to 4 risk of heavy rain along the Texas coast on Tuesday and for much of South Texas on Wednesday.
The Weather Prediction Center warned Monday that by Wednesday, the air along the Gulf Coast will be filled with “an incredible amount of moisture” that could “easily” cause flash flooding.
Torrential rain will not be welcome in some areas of the U.S. Gulf of Mexico coast. June has been dry after a wet spring, but there is still plenty of water in the area’s soil and rivers in eastern Texas and western Louisiana.
Read the full article in English here.