Alberto Moves Into Southern Georgia

After Tropical Storm Alberto moved inland this afternoon south of Tallahassee, Fla., with 50 mph winds and heavy rain it moved across Florida and is now buffeting southeastern Georgia with heavy rain.

According to the National Hurricane Center in Miami, a tropical storm warning remains in effect for the Atlantic coast from Flagler Beach, Ala. north to South Santee River, S.C.

Gale warnings are also in effect for the remainder of the South Carolina coast north through portions of the North Carolina coast.

At 5 p.m. EDT, the center of Alberto was near Valdosta, Ga. The storm is moving northeast at 10 mph and expected to continue to move over Georgia Tuesday evening and into South Carolina Wednesday morning.

Maximum sustained winds are near 40 mph, with higher gusts in a few squalls. Weakening is forecast and Alberto will likely become a tropical depression Tuesday night. Tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 175 miles northeast and southeast of the center.

A storm surge of 2 to 3 feet above normal tide levels is possible along the Atlantic coast in the warned area. Storm total rainfall amounts of 4 to 6 inches, with isolated maximum amounts to 8 inches are possible into Wednesday evening over the southeastern half of Georgia, much of North Carolina and South Carolina, except for the western parts of those states and into extreme southeastern Virginia.

Additional rainfall amounts of 2 to 4 inches are also possible over the northern and central Florida peninsula. Isolated tornadoes are possible over southeastern Georgia and coastal South Carolina.