Alberto holding steady as it moves west

Tropical Storm Alberto is moving west-southwest at nine miles per hour, with maximum sustained winds of 40 miles per hour, the National Hurricane Center said in its 4 p.m. update.

"The track guidance is in good agreement that Alberto's center will reach the coast of Mexico early Thursday, and the NHC track forecast is close to a blend of the TVCA and HCCA models," said Robbie Berg, Warning Coordination Meteorologist with the NHC.

There could be some slight strengthening before landfall, but forecasters do not expect Alberto to become a hurricane.

Although its winds wont be strong, they are spread out over a wide area, and the storm has the potential to make a lot of rain.

"Because of Alberto's large size, it will continue to produce heavy rains, moderate coastal flooding, and tropical-storm-force winds across portions of southern Texas and northeastern Mexico regardless of its exact track," said Berg.

Those winds are having an effect on the northern gulf coast, causing water to push up around areas outside the levee system.

"Winds are still blowing out of the east with gusts over 30 mph at times," said WWL-TV meteorologist Alexa Trischler. "These stronger winds are help pile up water for east facing shores."