Storms 411

Evacuations Ordered

Florida Gov. Jeb Bush issued a mandatory evacuation order for low-lying counties Dixie, Levy, Taylor, Citrus, Franklin and Wakulla, which are in the storm's path.

"If you are ordered to evacuate you should do it," Bush said Monday afternoon. "Don't think you can ride out a storm. There are 17 shelters planned to be open in 11 counties and more will be open later." Read more CNN

Tropical Storm Alberto is moving toward Florida and will make landfall today in the Big Bend region of the state.

Heavy rains and tornadoes remain the main threat across the Big Bend and Northeast Florida.

Tropical Storm Alberto has weakened slightly as of early Tuesday morning with maximum sustained winds now at 65 mph. Despite some weakening of the thunderstorms near the center of the tropical system, the area of rainfall is affecting much of North Florida and South Georgia. A Hurricane Warning remains in effect from Longboat Key, FL to the Ochlockonee River, FL. AccuWeather.com is forecasting landfall Tuesday morning around 9am edt.

Alberto not expected to reach hurricane strength

The first named storm of the 2006 Atlantic hurricane season slightly strengthened early today in the Gulf of Mexico, prompting forecasters to issue tropical storm warnings for Florida's west coast. Tropical Storm Alberto had maximum sustained wind near 50 mph but was not likely to grow into a hurricane, the National Hurricane Center said. There were no major reports of damage.  Read more - CNN

Alberto Threatens Florida Gulf Coast

Meteorologist Matthew Rinde of AccuWaeather.com reports:

At 5 a.m. EDT, Tropical Storm Alberto was located near 26.2 North, 87.2 West or about 275 miles south-southwest of Apalachicola, Florida. Alberto was moving to the north-northeast near86 mph. Maximum sustained winds remain near 45 mph with higher gusts, mainly in thunderstorms well to the north and east of the circulation center. The latest minimum central pressure measured by Air Force reconnaissance aircraft and a nearby ship was 1001 mb or 29.56 inches. A tropical storm watch is in effect from Bonita Beach to Englewood and parts of the Florida coast have upgraded to a tropical storm warning from Englewood northward to Indian Pass. . read more

Alberto Satellite Image