A storm system in Mexico's Bay of Campeche became the first named tropical storm of this year's Atlantic hurricane season, bringing heavy rains and winds to the south Texas and northeast Mexico coasts.
Tropical Storm Alberto is expected to come ashore in Mexico's Tamaulipas and Veracruz states late Wednesday or early Thursday, with maximum sustained winds of 40mph, according to the US National Hurricane Center. Heavy rain may be seen as far north as Corpus Christi, Texas, but the heaviest rains are expected inland in Mexico.
Rain and heavy seas associated with the Gulf of Mexico storm system were expected to disrupt ship-to-ship lightering operations off the coast of Corpus Christi, Galveston and Beaumont-Port Arthur, Texas. The storm system does not appear to have curtailed US offshore Gulf of Mexico oil and gas production.
This year's Atlantic hurricane season is expected to be more active than normal, according to the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, with 4-7 major hurricanes possible.
