@michaelscig72/Instagram
Alberto, the first named subtropical storm of the 2018 season, has made landfall on the Florida panhandle, bringing heavy rain, gusty winds and flash flooding to the area.
The storm, which began to weaken as it approached the Gulf Coast, was about 15 miles west-northwest of Panama City, Florida, as of 5 p.m. ET, with the center moving onshore near Laguna Beach, Florida.
Alberto’s winds are reaching up to 50 mph in the heaviest rain bands. A wind gust of 56 mph was reported near Panama City, Florida, with sustained wind gusts of 45 mph Monday afternoon.
Alberto remains a subtropical storm. States of emergency were declared in Florida, Alabama, and Mississippi, and tropical storm warning remains in effect along portions of the Florida gulf coast and along the Florida and Alabama state line.
A Flash Flood warning was issued Monday afternoon in Okaloosa County on Florida’s panhandle as a very heavy rain band moves through the area.
The biggest threat from Alberto will be possible flash flooding near the western panhandle of Florida as well as Montgomery and parts of southern Alabama. Some areas could see more than 6 inches of rain.
Isolated tornadoes are also expected for most of Florida, Alabama, Georgia and the Carolinas.
After making landfall in Florida, the storm will begin to significantly weaken.
The heavy rain will reach Atlanta, the Carolinas, and Birmingham, Alabama, and move into Nashville, Tennessee, on Tuesday.
Click here to read more.
SOURCE: ABC News, Max Golembo, Emily Shapiro and Daniel Peck
