The outer edges of Tropical Storm Alberto has begun to unleash heavy rain over parts of northeastern Mexico near the US border as the large tropical system closes in on the Gulf coast, killing at least three people.
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According to the US National Hurricane Center (NHC), the storm was about 200km east of the Mexican port of Tampico late on Wednesday, packing maximum sustained winds of 80km/h, as military and emergency services personnel braced for its full impact.
Alberto is the first named storm of the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season, though its sustained wind speeds remain below hurricane strength.
The deaths of at least three people, all minors, have been attributed to Alberto, Nuevo Leon state Governor Samuel Garcia told local media. He did not give details.
One of the victims has been identified as a 15-year-old boy who was swept away by the current of a river and drowned outside the city of Monterrey, Mexico's third biggest, in Nuevo Leon state, according to a report from the city's emergency services.
The NHC noted some "slight strengthening" is possible over Wednesday night.
The centre of Alberto is expected to make landfall along the coast of Mexico's Tamaulipas state, just south of the US state of Texas, early Thursday morning.
While it will likely weaken quickly, it is also seen bringing torrential rainfall, coastal flooding and strong winds.
The NHC warned of considerable flash flooding in the storm's path, including in urban areas, along with swollen rivers and potential mudslides.
Mexico's national water commission Conagua also issued a warning for overflowing rivers, landslides and flooding.
Governor Garcia encouraged his state's residents to avoid leaving their homes amid heavy rainfall and said preparations were in place to quickly address possible impacts to local power supplies, water and sewage systems.
Along the US Gulf coast, including parts of Texas and Louisiana, videos posted on social media showed some flooding in coastal towns and waves smashing into sea walls.
The NHC also cited the possibility of further coastal flooding along with the formation of tornadoes in Texas linked to Alberto.
Australian Associated Press
