Tropical Storm Alberto downgraded to depression in Mexico

June 20 (UPI) -- Tropical Storm Alberto was downgraded to a tropical depression on Thursday, but not until after it dumped heavy rain and caused floods in Mexico and some parts of Texas during the morning hours.

The remnants of Alberto continued to move west into northeastern Mexico on Thursday afternoon with sustained winds of 35 mph. It was located 95 miles west of Tampico Mexico and 280 miles south-southwest of Brownsville, Texas, moving west at 18 mph.

Forecasters said it was expected to eventually dissipate late Thursday.

"Heavy rainfall will continue to impact northeast Mexico[on Thursday] with rainfall totas of 5 to 10 inches expected," the National Hurricane Center said. "Maximum rainfall totals around 10 inches are possible across the higher terrain of the Mexican states of Coahuila, NuevoLarado and Tamaulipas."

The center of the storm reached the coast of Mexico Thursday morning, with heavy rain and gusty winds lashing the Texas coast.

The National Hurricane Center said that rain and gusty winds started to die down on the Texas coast after initial worries about the storm's impact in the southern portion of the state. Forecasters said storm warnings are anticipated to continue in northeastern Mexico.

The Texas cities of Galveston and Surfside Beach were already seeing flooding as of noon Wednesday. The heaviest rain in that state is predicted to fall in south Corpus Christi.

"Extensive coastal flooding has been reported at area beaches and coastlines. No changes to existing warnings," the NWS Houston office said in its latest update.

Alberto is not the only storm system currently moving towards the United States.

The NHC and Central Pacific Hurricane Center are tracking a storm currently located several hundred miles east of the Bahamas.

"Environmental conditions are marginally conducive for some gradual development of this system during the next few days while it moves westward or west-northwestward," the center said in its latest update.

"The system is forecast to approach the coast of the southeastern United States by the latter part of this week."