Tropical Storm Alberto could form in the Gulf with heavy rain and flooding the main threats to Houston in southeast Texas.

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — The first named tropical system of the year could develop this week and impact coastal Texas, including Houston and southeast Texas.

Although the landfall of this potential tropical storm is not a concern Monday evening, this system will send waves of torrential rain to the area, potentially leading to prolonged flooding in many people’s streets.

This is the first type of tropical impact Southeast Texas has seen in years. ABC13 meteorologist Elyse Smith explained Monday what to expect this week and if it’s a departure from the norm.

Last June at this time, Houston was in the midst of an early summer heat wave that would eventually become part of the record hot and dry summer. So this week’s weather couldn’t be more different, and it’s no coincidence either.

One crucial piece of information is that El Niño is officially over, which may lead to more favorable conditions for the development of tropical storms and hurricanes. Specifically, in June we typically see this development in the Bay of Campeche, near Mexico, and in the Western Caribbean. So, potential activity in this area in mid-June is not uncommon.

That said, as of Monday evening, there is a potential Tropical Storm 1 in this area that could become Alberto, the first named storm of the season, later this week.

Smith also spoke with Dan Reilly of the National Weather Service in Houston/Galveston to see how they are preparing for this event.

Reilly mentioned that with the forecast for the season one of the most active ever recorded, he is not surprised to see a certain evolution at the start of the season. And with these unusual weather conditions, he’s concerned about the possibility of heavier bands of rain that could arrive this week.

“There are ingredients there for a band of very heavy rain, and you know, we don’t know exactly where it’s going to form. Most likely south of Houston, along the coast, but you know, we have to be wary of stronger gangs, and where they set up shop, it’s always a little iffy in these situations,” Reilly said.

Street flooding is the main concern related to these heavy rains and weather conditions, meaning commutes on Tuesday evening and Wednesday morning could be significantly affected by flooded roads, road closures and significant delays, depending on the extent of rainwater. The best advice is to avoid driving during this time if you can.

Tuesday and Wednesday are ABC13 Weather Alert days, which can bring street flooding in Southeast Texas, coastal flooding, strong rip currents and high tides along the coast.

Flood and tropical storm watches have been issued for parts of Southeast Texas, and more information can be found at ABC13’s weather page.

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