Tropical Storm Alberto Forms

Tropical Storm Alberto formed on Wednesday in the southwestern Gulf of Mexico, marking the first named storm of what is expected to be a busy hurricane season. According to the National Hurricane Center in Miami, Alberto was positioned 185 miles east of Tampico, Mexico, and 295 miles south-southeast of Brownsville, Texas, with top sustained winds of 40 mph. A tropical storm has sustained winds between 39 and 73 mph; beyond that range, it becomes a hurricane.

The storm was moving west at 9 mph.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration forecasts a well above-average hurricane season, which began on June 1 and runs through November 30. They predict between 17 and 25 named storms, with up to 13 hurricanes and four major hurricanes. In comparison, an average Atlantic hurricane season typically produces 14 named storms, seven hurricanes, and three major hurricanes.