Subtropical Storm Alberto — the first named storm of this year’s hurricane season — made landfall Monday afternoon on Florida’s Panhandle, the National Hurricane Center reported.
While the storm’s core hit Laguna Beach, Florida, forecasters are predicting powerful wind and heavy rains in nearby states. Two journalists died in North Carolina while covering the storm, and Florida, Alabama, and Mississippi have all rolled out emergency plans.
Numerous Florida residents and reporters shared videos of the storm throughout Monday.
If you want a taste of some real #Alberto wind, the Panama City Marina is absolutely howling right now pic.twitter.com/3lPykoltVx
— Eryn Dion (@PCNHErynDion) May 28, 2018
Watching Subtropical Storm Alberto come ashore at Panama City Beach, FL on this #MemorialDay!#Alberto #PanamaCityBeach @weatherchannel pic.twitter.com/C4Bn96NppJ
— Barefoot Restaurants (@BarefootPCB) May 28, 2018
Check this out… Alberto whipped up a mini-vortex today at the Shores of Panama resort in Panama City Beach. Basically a waterspout over a pool… video from Justin Ray Parker pic.twitter.com/ELSH7gfnik
— James Spann (@spann) May 28, 2018
According to the Associated Press, Alberto’s outer bands wreaked havoc in Cuba. Nearly 20,000 people evacuated the island before the storm caused rivers and reservoirs to overflow, shutting down railroad service, an oil refinery and parts of the country’s national highway.
Alberto is expected to weaken as it continues moving inland, but a tropical storm warning remains in effect along the panhandle of Florida and southern Alabama.