Pre-season Subtropical Storm Alberto forms in the northwestern Caribbean Sea Friday morning. It is expected to potentially make landfall between the Florida Panhandle and Louisiana on Monday. We will be on the east side and that is the wettest part of the storm. Regardless of exact forecast track and intensity, Alberto is expected to produce heavy rainfall and flash flooding over the northeastern Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico, western Cuba, southern Florida and the Florida Keys. Rainfall and flooding potential will increase across the central Gulf Coast region and the southeastern United States later this weekend and early next week when Alberto is expected to slow down after it moves inland.
For now a Tropical Storm Watch is in effect for Tulum to Cabo Catoche Mexico and for the Cuban province of Pinar de Rio.
Pre-season Subtropical Storm Alberto forms over the NW Caribbean Sea. Winds at 40mph. @wsvn @7weather pic.twitter.com/g55zpLaa9O
— Vivian Gonzalez (@VivianGonzalez7) May 25, 2018
Models are consolidating and indicating that we will have a weekend washout. Rainfall accumulations are ranging anywhere between 4 to 8 inches with locally higher amount of up to 12 inches from Friday night through Monday. Unfortunately, flooding is likely since the ground is already saturated. Other potential impacts we can possibly see are isolated tornadoes and rough seas. The main message we want to pass along is to avoid driving, if you don’t have to this weekend.
Stay dry and informed this Memorial Day weekend with your Storm Station!
Vivian Gonzalez
Meteorologist, AMS Certified
WSVN Channel 7