Storm Watch No. 1.3, 2006: Hurricane Alberto?
From the Associated Press (via the Gainesville Sun):
A hurricane warning was issued for parts of Florida's Gulf Coast on Monday as the first named storm of the 2006 Atlantic hurricane season gained strength as it headed toward the state, forecasters said. The warning from Longboat Key near Sarasota to the Ochlockonee River south of Tallahassee means Tropical Storm Alberto was expected to produce hurricane conditions within the next 24 hours. A tropical storm warning remains in effect for Longboat Key to Englewood.
Whether Alberto will remain at hurricane strength when the eye reaches land is still uncertain. The current track still has the Big Bend region of Florida as the strike zone, although the areas to the east of the center -- Tampa/St. Pete -- can expect heavy rain and high winds. Northern Florida and southeastern Georgia can also expect substantial rainfall. Inland tornadoes are possible.
The lastest weather bulletin is here.
UPDATE: Alberto is now 4 mph shy of a Category 1 hurricane.
The link to the Gainesville Sun article changed. It is now corrected.
UPDATE TO THE UPDATE: I just realized the Sun story requires registration. This irks me to no end, so I'm linking to the Tampa Tribune instead.
And the Trib version offers this piece of trivia:
If Alberto came ashore as a hurricane, it would be the earliest hurricane in 40 years to hit the United States, according to the National Hurricane Center. The earliest on record is Alma, which in 1966 struck the Florida Panhandle on June 9 - the ninth day of the hurricane season.
A hurricane warning was issued for parts of Florida's Gulf Coast on Monday as the first named storm of the 2006 Atlantic hurricane season gained strength as it headed toward the state, forecasters said. The warning from Longboat Key near Sarasota to the Ochlockonee River south of Tallahassee means Tropical Storm Alberto was expected to produce hurricane conditions within the next 24 hours. A tropical storm warning remains in effect for Longboat Key to Englewood.
Whether Alberto will remain at hurricane strength when the eye reaches land is still uncertain. The current track still has the Big Bend region of Florida as the strike zone, although the areas to the east of the center -- Tampa/St. Pete -- can expect heavy rain and high winds. Northern Florida and southeastern Georgia can also expect substantial rainfall. Inland tornadoes are possible.
The lastest weather bulletin is here.
UPDATE: Alberto is now 4 mph shy of a Category 1 hurricane.
The link to the Gainesville Sun article changed. It is now corrected.
UPDATE TO THE UPDATE: I just realized the Sun story requires registration. This irks me to no end, so I'm linking to the Tampa Tribune instead.
And the Trib version offers this piece of trivia:
If Alberto came ashore as a hurricane, it would be the earliest hurricane in 40 years to hit the United States, according to the National Hurricane Center. The earliest on record is Alma, which in 1966 struck the Florida Panhandle on June 9 - the ninth day of the hurricane season.
posted by Jake McCafferty at 9:19:00 AM
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