Hurricane Alex Closes Padre Island National Seashore

With Hurricane Alex bearing down on it, Padre Island National Seashore has been closed to the public. NWS graphic.

With "Alex," the first June hurricane identified in the Atlantic since 1995, knocking on its doorstep, Padre Island National Seashore has been closed to the public.

Seashore officials cleared visitors off the beaches Tuesday afternoon and closed the park as of 5 p.m.

"Beach access will reopen once tides recede enough to allow for safe vehicular travel," read a statement on the seashore's website.

Hurricane Alex this morning was classified as a "category 1" hurricane, though forecasters said it could strengthen to a category 2 storm by the time it reaches the Texas coastline. According to the National Weather Service's Hurricane Center, there was a 40-60 percent chance of storm surges of greater than 2 feet at the national seashore up until Saturday morning.

As of 7 a.m. Central Daylight Time today, the hurricane was moving west-northwest at 7 mph.