CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – The first tropical system of the year is missing the United States, but that doesn’t mean we’re not feeling the impacts.
Tropical Storm Alberto formed in the Gulf of Mexico on Thursday. Forecast to make landfall in Mexico, the wind and rain from Alberto can be felt hundreds of miles away.
Closer to the anticipated site of landfall, the residents and vacationers alike in Corpus Christi are using every second of the storm.
“Just the waves just blow you away,” said Kevin Hoffstrom, who is visiting from Illinois. “It’s mind-boggling.”
This is the first time he’s ever experienced any kind of tropical system, which has him soaking up every second and every raindrop.
Meanwhile, those who unluckily picked this week to vacation on North Padre Island are still going to the beach, minus the sun.
“Wave! Wave! Wave! Ahh,” screamed Alyssa, who’s visiting from Kansas with her family.
Those who call Corpus Christi home are using Alberto’s forecast as a “dry run,” just in case they find themselves in the crosshairs of a major tropical system.
“We thought it was going to be worse than what it is,” said Linda Montouri. “We put batteries in our flashlights. We had our cell phones charged and our battery banks field and did all that just in case, because you never know.”