Back to Hurricane Summary 2006

Two days later than last year's storm season started, TD1 spun up, "Officially" kicking off Storm Watch 2006...

The first tropical depression of the season formed late Saturday.

At about 11AM or so, TD1 was named Tropical Storm Alberto.  Models indicate that the storm will develop, at most, to a minimal hurricane, and change course and head up the East Coast.

Tropical Storm Alberto, the first of the Atlantic hurricane season, has formed in the Gulf of Mexico. The center of the storm is located over 300 miles WSW of Key West, Fla., and is devoid of deep convection. The heaviest convection (downpours and thunderstorms) is well east of the storm center and moving toward the southern part of the Florida Peninsula. Although Alberto is forecast to strengthen slightly and turn toward the peninsula, it's equally likely that strong upper-level winds will continue to herd the convection away from the storm, thus precluding it from further strengthening... or moving toward Florida.

The Sunday morning Satellite seemed to show the storm was organizing... the history of the past storms that formed within 300 miles of Alberto in June seemed to do about the same thing that Alberto was expected to do.

Monday Morning saw more organization, and a increase in average wind speed... Wind Shear was still affecting the development, though...

Tropical Storm Alberto, now 275 miles SSW of Apalachicola, continues to churn in the Gulf of Mexico. Thunderstorms have developed closer to the center of the storm during the past few hours and some slight strengthening has occurred. A tropical storm warning has now been issued for portions of the Florida coastline from Indian Pass to Englewood. Tropical storm watches remain in effect from Englewood to Bonita Beach. The main concern from Alberto is the heavy rainfall anticipated. Rainfall on the magnitude of 5 to 10 inches could fall through Tuesday. While this rain will help ease the dry weather, flooding is a concern and flood watches are posted across portions of the peninsula.

Late Monday night, Alberto came ashore...

Tropical Storm Alberto will weaken as it moves over land today, nonetheless it will dump heavy rain on parts of the Southeast. Flood watches are posted from the eastern Florida Panhandle northeastward into parts of southern and eastern Georgia, eastern South Carolina and extreme southeastern North Carolina. In addition to the threat of locally heavy downpours, isolated tornadoes are possible over northern Florida and southeastern Georgia into this afternoon.

Monday morning's satellite images...

 

Alberto's maximum wind gusts on land so far have been near 60 mph. No further intensification of the storm is expected. In fact, winds should spin down as the center of Alberto moves through extreme northern Florida/far southeastern Georgia this afternoon. A few damaging wind gusts from thunderstorms and isolated tornadoes would be the worst effects from Alberto.

Alberto is expected to become extratropical tomorrow as it spins northeastward through the eastern Carolinas. Locally heavy cloubursts and gusty winds will continue, but widespread damage or flooding seems unlikely.

By 11AM (Eastern), Alberto had blown ashore, and weakened to having sustained winds of 50mph...

The center of Tropical Storm Alberto (maximum sustained winds 50 mph) is swirling onshore in the Big Bend area of Florida now. The storm will continue to weaken as it moves northeastward over land this afternoon, nonetheless it will dump heavy rain on parts of the Southeast. Flood watches are posted from parts of eastern Georgia through eastern South Carolina into southeastern North Carolina. In addition to the threat of locally heavy downpours, isolated tornadoes are possible over northern Florida and southeastern Georgia into this afternoon.

Alberto's maximum wind gusts on land so far have been near 60 mph. Winds will continue to spin down over the next several hours as the center of the storm moves through extreme northern Florida into far southeastern Georgia. A few damaging wind gusts from thunderstorms and isolated tornadoes will be the worst effects.

Alberto is expected to become extratropical tomorrow as it churns northeastward through the eastern Carolinas. Locally heavy cloudbursts and gusty winds will continue, but widespread damage or flooding seems unlikely.

By Wednesday, it was basically over...

Tropical Storm Alberto made landfall southeast of Tallahassee Florida around midday on Tuesday. Tropical Depression Alberto will continue northeastward through the Carolinas today. Localized flooding is likely from the eastern Carolinas northward to Virginia. Wind will not be much of a problem, however. In addition to the threat of locally heavy downpours, isolated tornadoes are possible over parts of the eastern Carolinas. A tornado briefly touched down in Charleston, SC and produced minor damage on Tuesday. Alberto is expected to become extratropical (non-tropical) as it churns northeastward through the eastern Carolinas later today.