NHC updates: System near Texas 'expected to become a tropical storm today' before landfall
The National Hurricane Center expects to name the tropical disturbance in the Gulf of Texas Wednesday, according to its latest advisory. Alberto will be the first tropical storm of the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season and is expected to make landfall in Mexico between late Wednesday and early Thursday morning.
In recent days, the disturbance has intensified significantly, prompting the National Weather Service to issue a tropical storm warning for several areas along Coastal Texas early Tuesday morning before expanding the warning to include a broader range of Texas later in the afternoon.
The warning now stretches across nearly the entirety of the state's coastline from San Luis Pass near Galveston to the mouth of the Rio Grande.
More: Tropical system brings heavy rain, flood threat to Corpus Christi, south Texas
Why is the tropical disturbance not yet a storm?
Currently, the NHC has dubbed the tropical event "Potential Tropical Cyclone One," which allows the NHC to issue advisories, watches and warnings for the system that hasn't yet formed into a tropical storm but poses a threat.
To become a tropical storm, maximum sustained winds must reach at least 39 mph, and the disturbance reportedly has maximum sustained speeds of 40 mph. However, the cyclone has yet to have a "well-defined center of circulation," which is another determining factor.
When will Potential Tropical Cyclone One make landfall?
NHC warned that the system is very large, with tropical-storm-force winds extending outward up to 415 miles to the north of the center, increasing significantly from an advisory Tuesday morning that cited 290 miles outward.
Location: 295 miles southeast of Brownsville, Texas
Maximum sustained winds: 40 mph
Movement: northwest at 8 mph
Pressure: 999 MB
"A generally westward motion with an increase in forward speed is expected during the next day or so, and the system is forecast to reach the coast of northeastern Mexico by late tonight or early Thursday," the latest advisory stated.
Already, the storm has brought significant rainfall to Texas. Those in South Texas and along the coast can expect to see continuing impact, which will include flooding rain, coastal flooding, gusty winds and high surf and rip currents, through Thursday.
The storm is expected to produce rainfall totals of 5 to 10 inches across northeast Mexico into South Texas, with maximum totals of 15 inches possible, according to the NHC.
Watches and warnings issued in Texas
NHC has issued a tropical storm warning for the Texas coast from San Luis Pass southward to the mouth of the Rio Grande. A warning was also issued for the northeastern coast of Mexico south of the mouth of the Rio Grande to Puerto de Altamira.
Track Potential Tropical Cyclone One's path
What do tropical storm watches, warnings from NHC mean?
What is storm surge? Graphics explain the deadly weather event
Tropical storm warning: A tropical storm warning means that tropical storm conditions are expected somewhere within the warning area within 36 hours.
Tropical storm watch: An announcement that sustained winds of 39 to 73 mph are possible within the specified area within 48 hours in association with a tropical, subtropical, or post-tropical cyclone.
This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: NHC: Cyclone 1 near Texas 'expected to become a tropical storm today'
