Alex becomes season’s first hurricane
(CNS): Following its organisation Alex has become the first hurricane of the 2010 season and the first June Atlantic hurricane since 1995. At 10:00 pm on Tuesday night Hurricane Alex was a category one hurricane moving mostly westward near 9 mph approaching the coast of north eastern Mexico or Southern Texas. Maximum sustained winds had increased to near 75 mph with higher gusts and the NHC was predicting additional strengthening prior to landfall. Hurricane force winds extend outward up to 15 miles from the centre and tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 175 miles.
Alex is expected to produce total rainfall accumulations of 6 to 12 inches over portions of north eastern Mexico and southern Texas with isolated maximum amounts of 20 inches.
According to the NHC dangerous storm surge will raise water levels by as much as 3 to 5 feet above ground level along the immediate coast to the north of where the centre makes landfall. The surge will be accompanied by large and destructive waves as well as isolated tornadoes over portions of extreme southern Texas on Wednesday.
Alex has gradually become better organized bur forecasters say Alex is unlikely to strengthen beyond category one status prior to landfall.
Category: Science and Nature
