Tropical Storm Alberto forms in the Gulf

MYRTLE BEACH, SC (WMBF) – The first storm of the hurricane season has officially been named. The National Hurricane Center’s 11 a.m. update names the first tropical cyclone as Tropical Storm Alberto.

As of 11:00 a.m., the center of Tropical Storm Alberto was located near 22.2 degrees north and 95.0 degrees west. Alberto is moving westward at about 9 mph. A westward motion with increasing forward speed is expected through Thursday.

The center of Alberto is forecast to reach the coast of northeastern Mexico early Thursday morning. Maximum sustained winds will be 40 mph with stronger gusts. Slight strengthening is expected later today or tonight before the center of Alberto makes landfall.

Once the center moves inland, rapid weakening is expected, and Alberto is likely to dissipate over Mexico on Thursday or Thursday night. Alberto is a large tropical storm, with tropical storm-force winds extending up to 415 miles north of the center. The minimum central pressure is 995 mb, according to dropsonde data.

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