CAPE CORAL, Fla. — Tropical Storm Alberto officially formed in the western Gulf of Mexico this morning and is already producing heavy rainfall along the Texas Gulf Coast. It's expected to bring anywhere from 4-8" of rainfall across parts of the Lone Star state and 2-4 feet of storm surge for parts of the Texas Gulf Coast including the Galveston area.
As it makes landfall in Mexico tomorrow, it will create flooding concerns there as well, especially in the mountainous terrain.
This is the latest a storm has formed since 2014 but that should have no bearing on what's potentially to come later in the season. As a matter of fact, it's in this same part of the Gulf (the Bay of Campeche) that another low could potentially develop this weekend. The National Hurricane Center has given it a 40% chance of development through the next 7-days.
For SWFL, a separate wave of energy situated several hundred miles to the east of the Bahamas will ramp up our rain chances more-so over the weekend. Strong winds from the east and southeast will drive in that moisture and ramp up our rain chances; heads up for weekend plans! This wave in the Atlantic holds a 30% chance of further formation in the next 2-days.
SWFL FORECAST:
Overnight will stay breezy with a few passing clouds and lows in the mid to upper 70s. Tomorrow we will see another breezy afternoon with gusts to 25 mph.
Small Craft Advisories are in effect through Thursday morning.
Keep the umbrellas close. Isolated to scattered showers are expected again tomorrow with hot temperatures in the lower 90s and a heat index of 100-105°.
Our afternoon rain chances increase Friday into the upcoming weekend with a 60-80% chance of showers and storms each day with highs in the low 90s. We will start each day with plenty of sunshine before the wet weather arrives in the afternoon.
FOX 4 EVENING METEOROLOGIST KATIE WALLS
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