Subtropical Storm Alberto makes landfall in Florida

Subtropical Storm Alberto made landfall near Laguna Beach in the Florida Panhandle on May 28 afternoon before crawling inland, according to media reports.

Forecasters warned that downpours from the storm raised the danger of flash flooding across several Southern states in coming hours and days, CNBC reported based on AP information.

Between four and eight inches (10-25 centimetres) of rain could pummel Florida Panhandle, eastern and central Alabama, and western Georgia before the storm moves on.

Alberto has weakened to a depression, but the threat of heavy rains continues, according to the National Hurricane Center (NOAA).

The NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center is forecasting a 75-percent chance that the 2018 Atlantic hurricane season will be near- or above-normal.

“With the advances made in hardware and computing over the course of the last year, the ability of NOAA scientists to both predict the path of storms and warn Americans who may find themselves in harm’s way is unprecedented,” secretary of commerce Wilbur Ross commented the forecast. “The devastating hurricane season of 2017 demonstrated the necessity for prompt and accurate hurricane forecasts.”

NOAA’s forecasters predict a 70-percent likelihood of 10 to 16 named storms (winds of 39 mph or higher), of which 5 to 9 could become hurricanes (winds of 74 mph or higher), including 1 to 4 major hurricanes (category 3, 4 or 5; with winds of 111 mph or higher). An average hurricane season produces 12 named storms, of which 6 become hurricanes, including 3 major hurricanes.