Alberto Weakens After Making Landfall In Florida Panhandle

Alberto has weakened to a subtropical depression after making landfall near Laguna Beach in the Florida Panhandle. Maximum sustained winds have decreased to near 35 mph with higher gusts. Continued weakening is forecast as Alberto moves farther inland, and the system is expected to degenerate into a "remnant low" by Tuesday evening.

Alberto is expected to produce 2 to 6 inches of rain from Alabama to the western Great Lakes and from northern Florida to the mid Atlantic coast through Wednesday. Isolated maximum totals of 12
inches are possible over the Florida Panhandle and Alabama. These rains may produce flooding and flash flooding.

Swells generated by Alberto will continue to affect the eastern and northern Gulf Coast through Tuesday. These swells are likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions. There are no coastal watches or warnings in effect.

On the forecast track, the subtropical depression is moving toward the north near 12 mph. A faster northward to north-northwestward motion is expected during the next few days. On the forecast track, the center of Alberto will move over Alabama later tonight and early Tuesday. The system is forecast to move over the Tennessee Valley on Tuesday and into the Ohio Valley and Great Lakes region on Wednesday and Thursday.

Alberto was the first named storm of the hurricane season, which doesn't officially start until Friday, June 1.

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On Saturday, Florida Gov. Rick Scott declared a state of emergency in all 67 Florida counties as Alberto targeted areas of the Gulf Coast.

The states of Alabama and Mississippi also declared states of emergency.

Image via National Hurricane Center