“Alberto” First tropical storm of the year forms east of the Yucatan Peninsula

The first Tropical Storm of 2018 has formed east of the Yucatan Peninsula, and was named “Alberto”. It is currently moving to the north across the Gulf of Mexico heading to the coasts of Lousiana.

Alberto brought winds greater than 50 kilometers per hour and waves of 2 to 3 meters tall to the shores of Quintana Roo.

This is the first storm of the year, and occurs just a few days before the official start of the hurricane season, which begins on June 1 in the Atlantic.

According to information from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), due to the low pressure system located over the northwest Caribbean Sea on the east of the Yucatan Peninsula, the activity of thunderstorms has increased.

Environmental conditions are being forecasted constantly,  and a subtropical or tropical  storm is likely to form on Saturday, May 26 over the northwest Caribbean Sea or the southeast Gulf of Mexico.

Strong local precipitation is forecasted in western Cuba and Southern Florida early next week. This system could also bring tropical storm force winds and swells to different parts of the northern Gulf coast by the end of the weekend.

In addition, the threat of rip currents will steadily increase along the Gulf Coast of Florida westward to Louisiana over the weekend.

A surveillance alert for Quintana Roo was issued, from Tulum to Cabo Catoche.

The director of Civil Protection in Benito Juarez, Luis Antonio Lomelín Diaque said that this tropical storm  represents no danger to Cancun and the Riviera Maya.

Experts are predicting as many as 15 more big storms this season, with up to nine becoming hurricanes. Of those, they predict as many as four will feature wind speeds over 111 mph

TYT Newsroom with information from  SIPSE