Watches Up for Alberto

The National Weather Service has now posted a Tropical Storm Watch for parts of Florida, as Alberto is expected to arrive within 36 hours. This includes Charlotte, Citrus, De Soto, Dixie, Hernando, Hillsborough, Lee, Levy, Manatee, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk, Sarasota, and Sumter Counties. These areas can expect wind gusts of 40-50 mph, 5-10 inches of rain, and the potential for isolated tornadoes to be spawned as Alberto hits. The coastal areas can also expect a 1-2 foot storm surge, peaking at around 4-6 feet in the northeast quadrant of the storm. This surge will be topped by 4-7 foot waves. All said, this will be some bad weather for the Florida Suncoast, but nothing too devastating.