Storm Alberto batters wide area of South

SUBTROPICAL storm Alberto hit the Florida Panhandle with pelting rain and brisk winds Monday, keeping Memorial Day crowds off the white sand beaches.

Alberto — the first named storm of the 2018 Atlantic hurricane season — weakened to a depression as it trekked inland early Tuesday.

The storm that sprang from the Gulf of Mexico’s warm waters turned into a vast, sloppy, soggy system dumping heavy rains in bursts all around the region.

Though the storm weakened, forecasters warned it was capable of causing potentially life-threatening flash floods in the coming days as it spreads over Alabama and large areas of Georgia, Tennessee and the Carolinas. Between 4 and 8 inches of rain could soak the Florida Panhandle, Alabama and western Georgia before the storm moves on. Isolated deluges of a foot were possible in spots as the system lumbers north Tuesday.

Alberto came ashore Monday afternoon in Laguna Beach, Fla., about 15 miles northwest of Panama City.

Rough conditions whipped up big waves off the eastern and northern Gulf Coast region, and officials warned swimmers to stay out of the surf through Tuesday.

Authorities did not directly attribute any deaths or injuries immediately to Alberto. But in North Carolina, a TV news anchor and a photojournalist were killed Monday when a tree fell on their vehicle as they reported on flooding and severe weather.

WYFF-TV anchor Mike McCormick and photojournalist Aaron Smeltzer (photo above, left to right) had just interviewed Tryon Fire Chief Geoffrey Tennant.

They told him to be careful with Alberto’s remnant, expected to bring more heavy rains and mudslides this week. He told them to be careful, too.

“Ten minutes later we get the call and it was them,” Tennant said at a news conference, his voice cracking.

Anchor Carol Goldsmith reported the deaths on air. “Mike and Aaron were beloved members of our team — our family,” she said.