FOX Weather’s Robert Ray takes us to the Texas coast to see the damage the first named storm of the season did to Texas.
The National Hurricane Center announced that the first named storm of the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season has dissipated. Former Tropical Storm Alberto proved deadly when it made landfall in Mexico early Thursday morning, leaving at least four people dead there as the storm soaked Texas with torrential rain and coastal flooding.
According to reports, three of the four who were killed were children.
The Associated Press reported two minors were killed by an electric shock while they were riding bikes in the rain, while Reuters is reporting another electric shock death and a 15-year-old who was swept away by raging floodwaters.
Alberto spawns tornadoes in Texas, leaves beach towns underwater
Alberto strengthened into a tropical storm on Wednesday morning after Hurricane Hunters and satellite data indicated a low-level circulation had formed underneath a mass of thunderstorm activity in the southwestern Gulf of Mexico.
Even though Alberto made landfall in Mexico, the effects of the storm were felt all along the U.S. Gulf Coast, with widespread coastal flooding reported along barrier islands and coastal communities from Brownsville in Texas to Grand Isle in Louisiana.
DRONE VIDEO: TROPICAL STORM ALBERTO LEAVES TEXAS BEACH TOWNS UNDERWATER
Alberto storm surge in Surfside Beach TX
(Surfside Beach EMS / FOX Weather)
Alberto wasn’t an impressive tropical storm. At its peak, Alberto had maximum sustained winds of 50 mph.
However, the FOX Forecast Center said that due to the storm’s lack of organization and a steep pressure gradient, coastal flooding was more significant than is normally experienced during a low-end tropical storm.
Major flooding was reported in Surfside Beach and the San Louis Pass region, which are both located south of Galveston.
TROPICAL STORM ALBERTO SWAMPS CORPUS CHRISTI WITH STORM SURGE, HEAVY RAIN
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An angry Gulf of Mexico as a result of Tropical Storm Alberto on Thursday, June 20, 2024.
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An angry Gulf of Mexico as a result of Tropical Storm Alberto on Thursday, June 20, 2024.
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An angry Gulf of Mexico as a result of Tropical Storm Alberto on Thursday, June 20, 2024.
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An angry Gulf of Mexico as a result of Tropical Storm Alberto on Thursday, June 20, 2024.
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An angry Gulf of Mexico as a result of Tropical Storm Alberto on Thursday, June 20, 2024.
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An angry Gulf of Mexico as a result of Tropical Storm Alberto on Thursday, June 20, 2024.
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An angry Gulf of Mexico as a result of Tropical Storm Alberto on Thursday, June 20, 2024.
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An angry Gulf of Mexico as a result of Tropical Storm Alberto on Thursday, June 20, 2024.
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SURFSIDE BEACH, TEXAS – JUNE 19: The storm surge from Tropical Storm Alberto, floods the streets in Surfside Beach, Texas, Wednesday, June 19, 2024. (Jon Shapley/Houston Chronicle via Getty Images)
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SURFSIDE BEACH, TEXAS – JUNE 19: Joseph Canzanella, left, greets members of the Vise family as he walks through the storm surge from Tropical Storm Alberto to get to work Wednesday, June 19, 2024, in Surfside Beach, Texas. This ain’t the first time I’ve had to do this, and it won’t be the last, Canzanella said. (Jon Shapley/Houston Chronicle via Getty Images)
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SURFSIDE BEACH, TEXAS – JUNE 19: Members of the Vise family walk through the storm surge from Tropical Storm Alberto, Wednesday, June 19, 2024, in Surfside Beach, Texas. They said they needed to get out of their house. (Jon Shapley/Houston Chronicle via Getty Images)
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SURFSIDE BEACH, TEXAS – JUNE 19: A car sits submerged in water as Tropical Storm Alberto approaches land Wednesday, June 19, 2024, in Surfside Beach, Texas. (Jon Shapley/Houston Chronicle via Getty Images)
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SURFSIDE BEACH, TEXAS – JUNE 19: Winds from Tropical Storm Alberto blow sea foam inland, Wednesday, June 19, 2024, in Surfside Beach, Texas. (Jon Shapley/Houston Chronicle via Getty Images)
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An angry Corpus Christi Bay is seen in Corpus Christi, Texas, during Tropical Storm Alberto on June 19, 2024.
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Storm surge flooding is seen in Corpus Christi, Texas, during Tropical Storm Alberto on June 19, 2024.
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Storm surge flooding is seen in Corpus Christi, Texas, during Tropical Storm Alberto on June 19, 2024.
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Storm surge flooding is seen in Corpus Christi, Texas, during Tropical Storm Alberto on June 19, 2024.
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Storm surge flooding is seen against the skyline of Corpus Christi, Texas, during Tropical Storm Alberto on June 19, 2024.
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Storm surge flooding is seen in Corpus Christi, Texas, during Tropical Storm Alberto on June 19, 2024.
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TxDOT crews removing debris and sand from the Bolivar Peninsula following flooding
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Alberto storm surge in Surfside Beach TX
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Alberto storm surge in Surfside Beach TX
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Alberto storm surge in Surfside Beach TX
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Alberto storm surge in Surfside Beach TX
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Alberto storm surge in Surfside Beach TX
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Alberto storm surge in Surfside Beach TX
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Alberto storm surge in Surfside Beach TX
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Surfside Beach Police performed high water rescues.
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Flooding in Corpus Christi from the outer bands of Tropical Storm Alberto on June 19, 2024.
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Flooding in Corpus Christi from the outer bands of Tropical Storm Alberto on June 19, 2024.
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San Luis Pass TX alberto
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San Luis Pass TX alberto
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San Luis Pass, Texas flooding
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San Luis Pass TX alberto
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Treasure Island, Texas flooding
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Surfside Beach, Texas during Tropical Storm Alberto.
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Surfside Beach, Texas during Tropical Storm Alberto.
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Surfside Beach, Texas during Tropical Storm Alberto.
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Surfside Beach, Texas during Tropical Storm Alberto.
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Surfside Beach, Texas during Tropical Storm Alberto.
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Surfside Beach, Texas during Tropical Storm Alberto.
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Surfside Beach, Texas during Tropical Storm Alberto.
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Surfside Beach, Texas during Tropical Storm Alberto.
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Surfside Beach, Texas during Tropical Storm Alberto.
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Surfside Beach, Texas during Tropical Storm Alberto.
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Surfside Beach, Texas during Tropical Storm Alberto.
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Surfside Beach, Texas during Tropical Storm Alberto.
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Angry water floods parts of the coast in Corpus Christi, Texas, during Tropical Storm Alberto on June 19, 2024.
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Winds whip through palm trees in Corpus Christi, Texas, during Tropical Storm Alberto on June 19, 2024.
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Stormy weather in Corpus Christi, Texas as Tropical Storm Alberto swirls in the Gulf of Mexico on June 19, 2024.
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Stormy weather in Corpus Christi, Texas as Tropical Storm Alberto swirls in the Gulf of Mexico on June 19, 2024.
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Stormy weather in Corpus Christi, Texas as Tropical Storm Alberto swirls in the Gulf of Mexico on June 19, 2024.
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Stormy weather in Corpus Christi, Texas as Tropical Storm Alberto swirls in the Gulf of Mexico on June 19, 2024.
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Stormy weather in Corpus Christi, Texas as Tropical Storm Alberto swirls in the Gulf of Mexico on June 19, 2024.
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Stormy weather in Corpus Christi, Texas as Tropical Storm Alberto swirls in the Gulf of Mexico on June 19, 2024.
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Stormy weather in Corpus Christi, Texas as Tropical Storm Alberto swirls in the Gulf of Mexico on June 19, 2024.
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Numerous Tornado Warnings were also issued as initial bands of rain and thunderstorms roared ashore.
And a suspected tornado caused significant damage to roofs near Rockport, Texas, on Wednesday afternoon.
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott issued a severe weather disaster declaration for 51 communities throughout the state due to the impacts of Alberto.
WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A TROPICAL DEPRESSION, TROPICAL STORM AND HURRICANE?
Deadly impacts in Central America
The National Hurricane Center (NHC) had been tracking the tropical disturbance for several days prior to its development and even classified it as Potential Tropical Cyclone One, which allowed government officials to issue watches and warnings ahead of the storm’s naming.
But Alberto’s origin can be tracked back to the Central American Gyre, or what is commonly referred to as the CAG.
The weather phenomenon is usually evident a few times a year and can produce torrential precipitation and trigger deadly mudslides and landslides throughout the seven countries sandwiched between Mexico and South America.
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SURFSIDE BEACH, TEXAS – JUNE 19: A person looks out from their balcony over floodwater on June 19, 2024 in Surfside Beach, Texas.
(Brandon Bell / Getty Images)
Before the tropical storm gained any sort of designation, its torrential rainfall was problematic for countries south of Mexico and laid the foundation for flooding and landslides that claimed the lives of at least 14 people.
Authorities in El Salvador and neighboring Guatemala closed schools and opened shelters as hundreds of rescue operations took place.
The storm and two other areas of disturbed weather produced feet of rainfall over the mountainous terrain, leading to mudslides and landslides.
Once the moisture that would become Alberto emerged into the Bay of Campeche, only slow organization took place, allowing the NHC to eventually classify the system as a tropical storm.
CENTRAL AMERICAN GYRE TRIGGERS DEADLY FLOODING, LANDSLIDES
The Central American Gyre has produced significant flooding for countries that boarder the eastern Pacific and western Caribbean.
Heavy rainfall over Mexico is welcome news
What’s left of Alberto is expected to mostly rain itself out during the next few days over communities west of Tampico, Mexico.
The region is important for agriculture, which has been hard hit by drought and heat waves due to a strong El Niño climate pattern.
According to the latest North America Drought Monitor, some communities are in the most extreme drought possible, with shortages of water and widespread crop failures.
NOAA anticipates a widespread 4-6 inches of precipitation will likely fall from Alberto and possibly a foot or more over the high terrain.
HOW TO PREPARE FOR HURRICANE SEASON
FOX Weather is tracking the remnants of Tropical Storm Alberto. Texas and Louisiana could see coastal flooding through Friday even though the storm dissipated.
More tropical trouble looming?
Alberto wasn’t the only area being monitored by the NHC. Another tropical disturbance dubbed Invest 92L was threatening parts of Florida and the Southeast coast with heavy rain and dangerous rip currents for Friday.
TROPICAL DISTURBANCE 92L COULD DEVELOP INTO TROPICAL DEPRESSION OFF SOUTHEAST COAST BY FRIDAY
And long-range computer models suggest another area of tropical development is possible over the weekend in the same western area of the Gulf of Mexico where Alberto formed.
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