The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Rainmaker storm Alberto churns toward Gulf Coast
ST. PETERSBURG, FLA. — Florida, Alabama and Mississippi launched emergency preparations Saturday ahead of the arrival of Subtropical Storm Alberto, a slow-moving system expected to cause wet misery across the eastern U.S. Gulf Coast over the holiday weekend.
Cuba was being pounded by rain along its western coast, raising the threat of flash floods and mudslides. The National Hurricane Center in Miami said the island’s rain totals could reach 10 to 15 inches — and even 25 inches in isolated areas.
Heavy downpours were expected to begin lashing parts of Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama on Sunday. Tropical storm warnings have been issued Whitlock said. “We get water for parts of Florida and Ala- from other neighborhoods, bama, saying tropical storm and water can get up to a conditions are possible there foot deep in some places.” by early Monday. Eddy Warner, a retired
The governors of Florida, consultant for a construction Alabama and Mississippi all company, filled bags while declared states of emergency waiting for his nephew to ahead of the storm Saturday. come help transport them
About 5 to 10 inches of rain home to protect his garage. are possible along affected “I’m 65 years old and too areas in eastern Louisiana, old to be doing this,” he said, Mississippi, Alabama, westlaughing. ern Tennessee and the westAlberto — the first named ern Florida Panhandle. Iso- storm of the 2018 hurrilated areas could see as much cane season that officially as 15 inches. starts June 1 — is expected to
Under overcast skies and strengthen until it reaches occasional drizzle, several the northern Gulf Coast, Gulfport, Mississippi, reslikely on Monday night. idents lined up to fill 10The NWS said waves as and 20-pound bags with high as 18 feet could pound sand they will use to block the popular Gulf beaches in any encroaching floodwaBaldwin County, Alabama, ter expected as a result of and northwestern Florida on Alberto. Monday. A high surf warning
Tommy Whitlock said was in effect through 7 p.m. sandbagging has become a Tuesday local time. usual event in his life since At 5 p.m. EDT Saturday, he lives next to a creek. the National Hurricane Cen
“I’m doing this because ter in Miami said Alberto every time we have a hard was about 95 miles north rain, it floods at my house,” of the western tip of Cuba and moving north at 13 mph. The storm had top sustained winds of 40 mph and was expected to strengthen as it moves over the eastern Gulf of Mexico.
A subtropical storm like Alberto has a less defined and cooler center than a tropical storm, and its strongest winds are found farther from its center. Subtropical storms can develop into tropical storms, which in turn can strengthen into hurricanes.
A tropical storm warning remained in effect for Cuba’s western Pinar del Rio province, where heavy rains could trigger flash floods and mudslides, the National Hurricane Center said.
Mexico canceled its watch for the resort-dotted coast of the Yucatan peninsula, where the storm brought heavy rain. There were no immediate reports of emergencies. In Cancun, local newspapers showed scenes of some streets flooded to mid-hubcap level.