Storm Watch No. 1.2, 2006:Tropical Storm Alberto

The first named storm of 2006 remains on track to move across the Big Bend region of Florida. Alberto is disorganized, and he has slowed in the last 24 hours.

Most of Florida's west coast was under a hurricane watch Sunday as Tropical Storm Alberto spun over the Gulf of Mexico, threatening to bring heavy rain in the next few days.

By midday, the first named storm of the 2006 Atlantic hurricane season had maximum sustained wind near 45 mph, up 10 mph from early in the morning, but it was not likely to grow into a hurricane, the National Hurricane Center said.

"We do not have any significant changes," said Lixion Avila, a senior hurricane specialist. "The system remains poorly organized."

Alberto is a lopsided tropical storm with the most intense wind and rains massed on the eastern edge of the system, Avila said. The first of the storm's rains swept across the Florida peninsula Sunday with no major reports of damage.

The storm contains significant rain, with 30 inches possible for Cuba and 8 inches for Florida. From the looks of things, most of the U.S. East Coast will receive a nice spring soaking.