Tropical Storm Alberto has formed in the Gulf of Mexico and is officially the first named storm of the season.

A Tropical Storm Warning extends from South Texas to NE Mexico as Alberto approaches the coast of Mexico. Heavy rain, coastal flooding and tropical-storm-force winds will occur Wednesday and Thursday.

Tropical Storm Warning runs from Freeport to South Padre Island in Texas, and from Mexico’s Rio Grande to Tecolutla.

Flood alerts are also issued for a large part of coastal Texas, from Galveston to Brownsville and inland.

Alberto is spinning in the western Gulf, close to 300 miles southeast of Brownsville, Texas. The storm is moving west at about 9 mph with sustained winds of 40 mph.

The storm is expected to travel west, directly toward the coast of Mexico, near Tampico. Landfall is expected late Wednesday into early Thursday morning.

Once Alberto makes landfall, a quick weakening is expected as the storm moves over mainland Mexico. By Thursday night, the storm should mostly dissipate.

The area we’ve been watching in the SW Gulf of Mexico has now officially been designated Invest 91L by the National Hurricane Center. Chances are increasing this develops into a tropical depression or tropical storm by midweek.

The NHC is giving the system a 70% chance to develop in the next 2 days, along with a 70% chance in the next 7 days.

Near the Bay of Campeche, conditions are favorable for a broad area of low pressure to form and start moving northwest. From there, warm waters in the Gulf offer plenty of fuel for this storm to strengthen as it approaches the coast.

This will bring a threat for flooding along the western Gulf Coast as Invest 91L pulls in deep tropical moisture, especially Tuesday and Wednesday.

Texas and mainland Mexico look to get the brunt of the heavy rain. Winds will increase out of the south and southeast, bringing high surf and rip currents as well.

Meanwhile, a strong ride of high pressure sitting over the East Coast will help steer this storm away from Florida.

There is another system the NHC is watching for additional development near the Bahamas.

This one has a lower chance for development, only 30% over the next week. There is some drier air that this storm will have to battle with as it approaches the Southeast coast later this week.

As the storm pulls in tropical moisture, this still could could bring heavy rain to the SE regardless of tropical development. We’ll watch for impacts to the Atlantic Coast later in the week, mainly Thursday – Friday.