Subtropical Storm Alberto Makes Landfall in Florida Panhandle

On May 28, Subtropical Storm Alberto made landfall in the Florida Panhandle. The storm reached maximum sustained winds of 45 mph when it made landfall in Laguna Beach, Fla. The storm left 6,540 customers without power in Florida, claimed the lives of two journalists in North Carolina, and continues to bring heavy rains and floods as it travels north. The National Hurricane Center predicts the storm will move through the Tennessee Valley, into the Ohio Valley, and through the Great Lakes region Wednesday and Thursday, CNN reported.

Florida, Mississippi and Alabama have declared emergencies as the first named storm of the season batters them. Alberto is the first named storm of the 2018 hurricane season, which does not officially begin until June 1, according the the National Hurricane Center. As of Monday evening, the subtropical storm has weakened into a depression. 

“Alberto weakened to a subtropical depression on Monday night,” the National Weather Service said. “However, heavy rainfall from Alberto will spread into northern Georgia, the western Carolinas, and Tennessee on Tuesday, increasing the threat of flash flooding in those areas.” 

Two casualties have been reported as a result of the storm in Polk County, N.C. News Anchor Mike McCormick and Photojournalist Aaron Smeltzer had just finished reporting on the hazardous weather when a tree fell on their van, claiming the lives of the journalists, NBC News reported.