(Tampico) Tropical Storm Alberto, the first named storm of the season, made landfall early Thursday, bringing heavy rain to northeastern Mexico.
The storm is expected to weaken quickly over land, but bring several inches of rain inland to the Mexican states of Tamaulipas, Nuevo León and Coahuila, as well as southern Texas.
Alberto issued tropical storm warnings covering most of the western Gulf of Mexico coastline from Texas to Veracruz.
Schools were closed in Tamaulipas state, where Alberto made landfall, and will remain closed through Friday. Shelters were set up across the state to accommodate residents trying to escape the floodwaters.
Alberto headed toward northeastern Mexico as the first named storm of the season, bringing heavy rains that left three people dead. But the storm also brought hope to a region suffering from severe and prolonged drought.
Mexican authorities downplayed the risk posed by Alberto and instead pinned their hopes on his ability to relieve the region’s water needs.
“The wind speed is not such that it can be considered a risk,” assured Raúl Quiroga Álvarez, secretary of hydrological resources of the state of Tamaulipas, during a press conference held Wednesday at the end of the day. Instead, he suggested that people welcome Alberto with joy. “This is what we have been waiting for for eight years throughout Tamaulipas. »
Much of Mexico is suffering from a severe drought, with the north of the country particularly affected. Mr. Quiroga noted that the state’s reservoirs were low and that Mexico owed a massive water debt to the United States through their joint use of the Rio Grande.
“It’s a win-win event for Tamaulipas,” he said.
But in the neighboring state of Nuevo León, civil protection authorities reported three deaths linked to Alberto’s rains. They said a man died in the La Silla River in the city of Monterrey, the state capital, and two miners died from electric shocks in the municipality of Allende. Local media reported that the miners were biking in the rain.
The governor of Nuevo León, Samuel García, indicated on his account of the social media platform
The center added that flooding and mudslides are likely in and near areas of the Mexican states of Coahuila, Nuevo León and Tamaulipas, including the cities of Monterrey and Ciudadipas.
Moderate coastal flooding is likely along much of the Texas coast through today’s high tide. Swells generated by Alberto are affecting the Texas coast and northeastern Mexico through Friday. These swells are producing life-threatening surf and rip current conditions, the center said.
Alberto also brought rain and flooding to coastal Texas.
Along the Texas coast, road flooding and dangerous currents were seen Wednesday, and downpours were seen offshore.
Authorities have closed schools for the rest of the week in Tamaulipas due to the possibility of localized flooding.
According to the National Hurricane Center, rainfall in the range of 13 to 25 centimeters is expected in some areas of the Texas coast, with isolated accumulations even heavier. Some higher elevations in Mexico could receive up to 50 centimeters of rain, which could lead to mudslides and flash flooding, particularly in the states of Tamaulipas, Coahuila and Nuevo León.
Alberto is expected to weaken rapidly over land and dissipate over the next few hours.