Tropical Storm Alberto forms in southwest Gulf, 1st named storm of hurricane season

MIAMI (AP) — Tropical Storm Alberto formed on Wednesday in the southwestern Gulf of Mexico, the first named storm of what is forecast to be a busy hurricane season.

Alberto was located 185 miles (about 300 kilometres) east of Tampico, Mexico and 295 miles (about 480 kilometres) south-southeast of Brownsville, Texas.

It had top sustained winds of 40 mph (65 kph), according to the National Hurricane Center in Miami.

A tropical storm is defined by sustained winds of between 39 and 73 mph (62 and 117 kph), and above that the system becomes a hurricane.

The storm was moving west at nine mph (15 kph).

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration predicts the hurricane season that began June 1 and runs through November 30 is likely to be well above average, with between 17 and 25 named storms. The forecast calls for as many as 13 hurricanes and four major hurricanes.

An average Atlantic hurricane season produces 14 named storms, seven of them hurricanes and three major hurricanes.

A no-name storm earlier in June dumped more than 20 inches (50 centimetres) of rain on parts of South Florida, stranding numerous motorists on flooded streets and pushing water into some homes in low-lying areas.

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