First Named Storm of 2006 Could Have Been Worse

MIAMI, Florida, June 14, 2006 (ENS) - Remnants of the first named storm of the 2006 hurricane season are moving over the Carolinas after blowing through Florida at about 70 miles per hour Tuesday. Tropical Storm Alberto downed power lines and flooded roads and properties in Tampa and other places along the Gulf Coast.

Thousands of people suffered financial losses and considerable distress, but after last year's repeated pounding by severe hurricanes, many were relieved that the damage was not worse.

But Steve Kerr of the American Red Cross said even though Alberto did not reach hurricane strength, each damaged home or business is still a disaster. "To a business, to a family, to a homeowner, a loss is a loss,'' he said.

Now downgraded to a tropical depression, Alberto was located 70 miles southwest of Raleigh, North Carolina at 11 this morning. Carrying maximum sustained winds of 35 miles per hour with higher gusts, the depression is moving toward the northeast at about 23 miles per hour and this movement is expected to continue over the next 24 hours with an increase in speed.

Satellite image of Alberto, now classed as a tropical depression, over South Carolina. (Photo courtesy NOAA)

Rainfall of two to four inches with isolated maximum amounts to six inches are possible through this evening from central and eastern north Carolina into southeastern Virginia.

The coastal storm surge will subside today, forecasters say. Isolated tornadoes are possible over north coastal South Carolina and southeastern North Carolina today, and gale warnings are in effect along the coast of the Carolinas in anticipation of Alberto's re-strengthening as an extratropical cyclone.

For Florida, all tropical storm warnings have been discontinued, and all watches and warnings have been discontinued.

Deep southwesterly wind flow and lingering moisture from the departing storm will interact with daytime heating to produce isolated to scattered showers and thunderstorms this afternoon across the Florida peninsula, National Weather Service forecasters said.

Some of these storms could be strong and contain occasional cloud-to-ground lightning strikes, gusty winds, and brief heavy downpours which could cause minor flooding in poor drainage areas. No widespread severe weather is anticipated.

On Monday afternoon, Governor Jeb Bush declared a state of emergency Florida and issued a mandatory evacuation order for low-lying areas of Dixie, Levy, Taylor, Citrus, Franklin and Wakulla counties.

Alberto storm clouds over Tallahassee, Florida (Photo credit unknown)

"We're hopeful people are prepared and will work with local communities, specifically rural counties, to make sure they have the resource they need and hope the storm passes," Bush said at a news briefing.

At the peak of the storm last night 342 people too refuge in 27 shelters. Now only 24 people remain in two shelters.

Florida Power & Light Company (FPL) reported today that its system sustained minimal damage as a result of Tropical Storm Alberto. At its peak, no more than about 11,000 customers from Sarasota to St. Augustine were without power at any given time due to the storm.

In total, about 21,000 customers lost power in Florida during the two day storm, and FPL said power was restored to most customers by Tuesday night.

“We were prepared for the worst and are pleased that Alberto carried less of a punch than we anticipated,” said Geisha Williams, FPL vice president of power distribution and the executive in charge of power restoration. “Although the storm had minimal impact, Alberto served as a reminder to all of us to be prepared for what could be an active hurricane season.”

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration predicts that the 2006 season, which officially started June 1, could produce as many as 16 named storms, with six of them becoming major hurricanes.