Tropical Storm Alberto to Bring Heavy Rain to Florida on Tuesday

Tropical storm Alberto is predicted to bring much needed heavy rain to the Florida’s west coast and into southern Georgia early Tuesday Tuesday morning, according to the National Hurricane Center in Miami. Forecasters predicted Alberto could pass over Florida’s coast anywhere from Tampa to Pensacola and bring torrential rain and thunder showers across the state and into southeastern Georgia.

Alberto’s center was at 23.9 degrees north and 88.1 degrees west on Sunday morning, moving toward the northwest. The storm’s maximum sustained winds were at 40 mph, with gusts to 50 mph, and 12-foot seas.

At 11 a.m. EST Sunday, the center of Tropical Storm Alberto was near latitude 23.9 N, longitude 88.1 W, about 400 miles west of Key West, Fla.; and about 445 miles southwest of Apalachicola, Fla.

Alberto is moving northwest near 9 mph and was predicted to turn toward the north and northeast within 24 hours. Its maximum sustained winds are near 45 mph with higher gusts. NHC predicted some slight strengthening within 24 hours.

Tropical storm force winds extended outward up to 175 miles to the east of Alberto’s center.

Alberto is expected to produce rainfall accumulations of 10 to 20 inches over the western half of Cuba, with isolated totals of 30 inches over the higher terrain. NHC predicted life-threatening flash floods and mud slides. The Florida Keys and the Florida Peninsula was warned to expected to have 4 to 8 inches of rain on Monday.