2016 Atlantic Hurricane Season (kdenny)

Tropical Storm Alex
In late-June, a tropical wave moved off the coast of Africa. Limited developed occurred, due to the presence of stable air associated with the Saharan Air Layer (SAL). The tropical wave was also caught in an area of strong easterlies, which prevented the storm from closing off a circulation. By early-July, the wave entered the Caribbean and was monitored for tropical cyclone developed by the National Hurricane Center (NHC). On 06z July 6, the storm was deemed to have gained sufficient organization to be declared a tropical depression, the first of the season.

The depression slowly gained steam, becoming Tropical Storm Alex on 06z July 7. Alex was slow to organize due the presence of dry continental air and the storm gained little in intensity throughout July 8. A hurricane hunter at 12z July 9 determined Alex had strengthened, with maximum sustained winds of 65 mph. Alex made landfall near Sabine, Texas at this intensity at around 02z July 10 and weakened as it moved inland. Alex was declared post tropical on July 11. No deaths were associated with Alex, and minimal damage was reported.