NOAA Storm Tracker: Alberto Tropical Storm Watch In Effect

MIAMI, Florida -- As of 8:00 a.m. E.D.T. on May 20, 2011, the National Weather Service National Hurricane Center has classified Tropical Storm Alberto as a continuing tropical storm with winds of  50 m.p.h., with higher gusts.  

Just two weeks before the official start of the Atlantic Hurricane Season, NOAA's National Hurricane Center in Miami, Florida has issued a tropical storm watch as Tropical Storm Alberto continues to churn in the Atlantic Ocean 95 miles south-southeast of Charleston, South Carolina and 115 east-southeast of Savannah, Georgia.   Currently, Tropical Storm Alberto is moving west-southwest at 6 miles per hour.

A tropical storm watch is in effect for the Savannah River to South Santee River in South Carolina.  

A tropical storm watch means that tropical storm conditions are possible within the watch area.  In this case, within the next 24 hours.  The National Hurricane Center says that coastal interests elsewhere should monitor the progress of Tropical Storm Alberto.


NOAA's current projected path for Alberto takes it just off the outer banks of North Carolina and Virgina beaches overnight Tuesday night and into Wednesday morning.

Alberto is approximately 400 miles north-northeast of Cape Canaveral, Florida:

WTNT31 KNHC 201139
TCPAT1

BULLETIN
TROPICAL STORM ALBERTO INTERMEDIATE ADVISORY NUMBER   3A
NWS NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL       AL012012
800 AM EDT SUN MAY 20 2012

...ALBERTO MOVING SLOWLY WEST-SOUTHWESTWARD...NOT EXPECTED TO
STRENGTHEN...


SUMMARY OF 800 AM EDT...1200 UTC...INFORMATION
----------------------------------------------
LOCATION...31.7N 79.3W
ABOUT  95 MI...150 KM SSE OF CHARLESTON SOUTH CAROLINA
ABOUT 115 MI...185 KM ESE OF SAVANNAH GEORGIA
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...50 MPH...85 KM/H
PRESENT MOVEMENT...WSW OR 245 DEGREES AT 6 MPH...9 KM/H
MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...998 MB...29.47 INCHES


WATCHES AND WARNINGS
--------------------
CHANGES WITH THIS ADVISORY...

NONE.

SUMMARY OF WATCHES AND WARNINGS IN EFFECT...

A TROPICAL STORM WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR...
* SAVANNAH RIVER TO SOUTH SANTEE RIVER SOUTH CAROLINA

A TROPICAL STORM WATCH MEANS THAT TROPICAL STORM CONDITIONS ARE
POSSIBLE WITHIN THE WATCH AREA...IN THIS CASE WITHIN 24 HOURS.

COASTAL INTERESTS ELSEWHERE FROM GEORGIA THROUGH THE OUTER BANKS OF
NORTH CAROLINA SHOULD MONITOR THE PROGRESS OF ALBERTO.

FOR STORM INFORMATION SPECIFIC TO YOUR AREA...INCLUDING POSSIBLE
INLAND WATCHES AND WARNINGS...PLEASE MONITOR PRODUCTS ISSUED BY
YOUR LOCAL NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORECAST OFFICE.


DISCUSSION AND 48-HOUR OUTLOOK
------------------------------
AT 800 AM EDT...1200 UTC...THE CENTER OF TROPICAL STORM ALBERTO WAS
LOCATED NEAR LATITUDE 31.7 NORTH...LONGITUDE 79.3 WEST. ALBERTO IS
MOVING TOWARD THE WEST-SOUTHWEST NEAR 6 MPH...9 KM/H...AND THIS
GENERAL MOTION WITH A DECREASE IN FORWARD SPEED IS EXPECTED TODAY.
A TURN TOWARD THE NORTHEAST IS FORECAST ON MONDAY.

MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS REMAIN NEAR 50 MPH...85 KM/H...WITH HIGHER
GUSTS.  LITTLE CHANGE IN STRENGTH IS FORECAST DURING THE NEXT 48
HOURS.

TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 70 MILES...110 KM
FROM THE CENTER.

ESTIMATED MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE IS 998 MB...29.47 INCHES.


HAZARDS AFFECTING LAND
----------------------
WIND...TROPICAL STORM CONDITIONS ARE POSSIBLE ALONG THE COAST OF
SOUTH CAROLINA IN THE WATCH AREA LATER TODAY OR MONDAY.

SURF...DANGEROUS SURF CONDITIONS ARE POSSIBLE ALONG THE COASTS OF
GEORGIA AND SOUTH CAROLINA THROUGH MONDAY.  PLEASE SEE STATEMENTS
ISSUED BY YOUR LOCAL NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OFFICE FOR
INFORMATION SPECIFIC TO YOUR AREA.

Small Chance of Rain For Brevard County

MELBOURNE, Florida - The National Weather Service in Melbourne, Florida has issued a Hazardous Weather Outlook which forecasts only a small chance of thunderstorms today for Central Florida, with the best chances for the counties south of Brevard County, Florida:

SHORT TERM FORECAST
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MELBOURNE FL
900 AM EDT SUN MAY 20 2012

AMZ550-552-555-570-572-575-FLZ041-044>047-053-054-058-059-064-141-
144-147-201700-
COASTAL VOLUSIA-FLAGLER BEACH TO VOLUSIA-
BREVARD COUNTY LINE 20 NM TO 60 NM OFFSHORE-FLAGLER BEACH TO VOLUSIA-
BREVARD COUNTY LINE OUT TO 20 NM-INDIAN RIVER-INLAND VOLUSIA-MARTIN-
NORTHERN BREVARD-NORTHERN LAKE-OKEECHOBEE-ORANGE-OSCEOLA-
SEBASTIAN INLET TO JUPITER INLET 20 NM TO 60 NM OFFSHORE-
SEBASTIAN INLET TO JUPITER INLET OUT TO 20 NM-SEMINOLE-
SOUTHERN BREVARD-SOUTHERN LAKE-ST. LUCIE-VOLUSIA-
BREVARD COUNTY LINE TO SEBASTIAN INLET 20 NM TO 60 NM OFFSHORE-
VOLUSIA-BREVARD COUNTY LINE TO SEBASTIAN INLET OUT TO 20 NM-
900 AM EDT SUN MAY 20 2012

.NOW...
A DRIER THAN NORMAL AIR MASS OVER THE AREA WILL RESULT IN PARTLY TO
MOSTLY SUNNY SKIES OVER LAND AREAS THIS MORNING.

A NORTHEAST TO EAST SWELL WILL BRING A MODERATE RIP CURRENT RISK...
ESPECIALLY NEAR PIERS AND JETTIES.

NORTHEAST WINDS 10 TO 15 KNOTS WILL PRODUCE CHOPPY CONDITIONS FOR
SMALL CRAFT IN THE GULF STREAM...ESPECIALLY FROM CAPE CANAVERAL
NORTHWARD. THERE WILL ALSO BE ISOLATED SHOWERS OR LIGHTNING STORMS IN
THE GULF STREAM...MAINLY SOUTH OF CAPE CANAVERAL.

&&

ADDITIONAL DETAILS...INCLUDING GRAPHICS ARE AVAILABLE ONLINE AT:
HTTP://WWW.SRH.NOAA.GOV/MLB/BLOG.PHP

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MELBOURNE FL
453 AM EDT SUN MAY 20 2012

AMZ550-552-555-570-572-575-FLZ041-044>047-053-054-058-059-064-141-
144-147-202100-
COASTAL WATERS FROM FLAGLER BEACH TO VOLUSIA BREVARD COUNTY LINE
OUT 20 NM-
COASTAL WATERS FROM VOLUSIA BREVARD COUNTY LINE TO SEBASTIAN
INLET OUT 20 NM-
COASTAL WATERS FROM SEBASTIAN INLET TO JUPITER INLET OUT 20 NM-
WATERS FROM FLAGLER BEACH TO VOLUSIA BREVARD COUNTY LINE 20 TO
60 NM OFFSHORE-
WATERS FROM VOLUSIA BREVARD COUNTY LINE TO SEBASTIAN INLET 20 TO
60 NM OFFSHORE-
WATERS FROM SEBASTIAN INLET TO JUPITER INLET 20 TO 60 NM OFFSHORE-
INLAND VOLUSIA-NORTHERN LAKE-ORANGE-SEMINOLE-SOUTHERN BREVARD-
OSCEOLA-INDIAN RIVER-OKEECHOBEE-ST. LUCIE-MARTIN-COASTAL VOLUSIA-
SOUTHERN LAKE-NORTHERN BREVARD-
453 AM EDT SUN MAY 20 2012

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR EAST CENTRAL FLORIDA.

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT.

.THUNDERSTORM IMPACT...
NORTHERLY WINDS AROUND THE BACK SIDE OF TROPICAL STORM ALBERTO
WILL BRING DRIER AIR OVER MUCH OF THE REGION TODAY. THIS WILL
LIMIT STORM CHANCES TO ONLY THE FAR SOUTHERN SECTIONS OF EAST
CENTRAL FLORIDA...MAINLY LATE THIS AFTERNOON INTO EARLY EVENING
OVER OKEECHOBEE COUNTY AND THE TREASURE COAST COUNTIES.

STORMS TODAY WILL PRODUCE DANGEROUS CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING
STRIKES AND HEAVY DOWNPOURS. ALSO...RELATIVELY COOL AND DRY MID
LEVELS OF THE ATMOSPHERE MAY ALLOW A FEW STRONGER STORMS WITH
GUSTY WINDS OF 40-50 MPH AND HAIL UP TO THE SIZE OF COINS. MOVE
INDOORS AT THE FIRST SIGN OF AN APPROACHING OR DEVELOPING STORM.

.RIP CURRENT IMPACT...
WEATHER AND OCEAN CONDITIONS WILL PRODUCE A MODERATE RISK FOR RIP
CURRENTS AT AREA BEACHES TODAY. CHECK WITH THE BEACH PATROLS FOR
LOCAL RIP CURRENT INFORMATION WHEN ARRIVING AT THE BEACH. ONLY
SWIM WITHIN SIGHT OF A LIFEGUARD AND NEVER SWIM ALONE.

.WIND AND SEA IMPACT...
NORTH TO NORTHEAST WINDS WILL INCREASE UP TO 15 TO 20 KNOTS WITH
SEAS BUILDING UP TO 6 FEET OVER THE GULF STREAM WATERS NORTH OF
SEBASTIAN. SMALL CRAFT SHOULD EXERCISE CAUTION IN THESE AREAS.


.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY.
SUFFICIENT MOISTURE AND INSTABILITY WILL EXIST FOR ISOLATED TO
SCATTERED SHOWERS AND STORMS EACH DAY THIS WEEK.

A LINGERING SWELL WILL KEEP SEAS ELEVATED INTO THE EARLY WEEK.

Cocoa Beach Surf and Fishing Report for Sunday May 20, 2012

COCOA BEACH, Fla. -- As of 5:00 a.m. on Sunday May 20, 2012, jelly fish, including Portuguese Man-o-War,  are present in the water throughout Cocoa Beach from Coconuts on the Beach northward to Jetty Park in Cape Canaveral due to prevailing easterly winds pushing the jellies closer to shore.

 

 

Look for purple flags flying at nearby lifeguard stations which would indicate the presence of jelly fish in the immediate area.  Red Flags indicate dangerous surf conditions including rip currents.

    

A browning wave of Sargasso seaweed is slightly present on shore and in the water, but diminishing.

 

 

Winds are from the north-northeast at 12 m.p.h

  

Breaking waves are 1-4 feet and semi-choppy. 

44th FSFA SLAM Fishing Tournament At Sunrise Marina / Grill's In Port Canaveral

 

Giant Tiger Shrimp On The Rise In U.S. Waters

Non-Tropical Low Forms In The Atlantic

 

 

A  near-shore ocean current is slowly moving southward.

Today will be a good day for surf fishing due to clear water and diminishing seaweed. Just remember that some portions of the beach could be crowded today due the Space Coast Superboat Race in Cocoa Beach.

 

If you are planning a land-based fishing trip today, it would be better to fish from Jetty Park, Cocoa Beach Pier, Port Canaveral locks, Indian River Lagoon, or Sebastian Inlet for Flounder and Sheepshead near rocks and pilings. 

 

In the open near-shore ocean waters, Sea Trout, Black Drum, Red Drum, Whiting and Pompano have been hitting up and down the Brevard County coastline and inlet mouths during the last four months from Sebastian Inlet to Port Canaveral. 

 

Pompano are hitting more often from the beaches south of Coconuts on Minuteman Causeway.  

Cobia are biting just off-shore, but the season wasn't near as good as last year.

Always check the Front Page of Brevard Times.com each morning for the latest Surf and Fishing Report, or follow us on Facebook , Twitter , or use your news reader to receive automatic updates. 

Current Temps: Water 78 F    Air 75 F
20 Mile Cape Canaveral Buoy: 5.2 Ft. swell every 9 seconds. 

120 Mile Cape Canaveral Buoy: 5.2 Ft. swell every 9 seconds.

 

Tides:  

01:56 AM Low
07:52 AM High
02:07 PM Low
08:28 PM High 

Humidity:	78 %
Wind Speed:	N 13 MPH
Barometer:	29.95" (1014.3 mb)
Dewpoint:	67 °F (20 °C)
Visibility:	10.00 mi.

Tropical Storm Watch In Effect For Southeastern U.S.

MIAMI, Florida -- Just two weeks before the official start of the Atlantic Hurricane Season, NOAA's National Hurricane Center in Miami, Florida has issued a public advisory Tropical Storm Alberto continues to churn in the Atlantic Ocean 100 miles southeast of Charleston, South Carolina and 130 east-southeast of Savannah, Georgia.  


Alberto is approximately 400 miles north-northeast of Cape Canaveral, Florida.

As of 5 a.m. EDT on May 20, 2012 a tropical storm watch is in effect for the Savannah River to South Santee River in South Carolina.  

Tropical storm watch means that tropical storm conditions are possible within the watch area.  In this case, within the next 24 hours.  The National Hurricane Center says that coastal interests elsewhere should monitor the progress of Tropical Storm Alberto.

8 AM UPDATE: NOAA Storm Tracker: Alberto Tropical Storm Watch In Effect

Alberto has maximum sustained winds of 50 miles per hour, with higher gusts.  Currently Alberto is moving west-southwest at 6 miles per hour.

BULLETIN
TROPICAL STORM ALBERTO ADVISORY NUMBER   3
NWS NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL       AL012012
500 AM EDT SUN MAY 20 2012

...ALBERTO CHANGES LITTLE IN STRENGTH...


SUMMARY OF 500 AM EDT...0900 UTC...INFORMATION
----------------------------------------------
LOCATION...31.7N 78.9W
ABOUT 100 MI...160 KM SE OF CHARLESTON SOUTH CAROLINA
ABOUT 130 MI...210 KM ESE OF SAVANNAH GEORGIA
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...50 MPH...85 KM/H
PRESENT MOVEMENT...WSW OR 245 DEGREES AT 6 MPH...9 KM/H
MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...998 MB...29.47 INCHES


WATCHES AND WARNINGS
--------------------
CHANGES WITH THIS ADVISORY...

NONE.

SUMMARY OF WATCHES AND WARNINGS IN EFFECT...

A TROPICAL STORM WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR...
* SAVANNAH RIVER TO SOUTH SANTEE RIVER SOUTH CAROLINA

A TROPICAL STORM WATCH MEANS THAT TROPICAL STORM CONDITIONS ARE
POSSIBLE WITHIN THE WATCH AREA...IN THIS CASE WITHIN 24 HOURS.

COASTAL INTERESTS ELSEWHERE FROM GEORGIA THROUGH THE OUTER BANKS OF
NORTH CAROLINA SHOULD MONITOR THE PROGRESS OF ALBERTO.

FOR STORM INFORMATION SPECIFIC TO YOUR AREA...INCLUDING POSSIBLE
INLAND WATCHES AND WARNINGS...PLEASE MONITOR PRODUCTS ISSUED BY
YOUR LOCAL NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORECAST OFFICE. 


DISCUSSION AND 48-HOUR OUTLOOK
------------------------------
AT 500 AM EDT...0900 UTC...THE CENTER OF TROPICAL STORM ALBERTO WAS
LOCATED NEAR LATITUDE 31.7 NORTH...LONGITUDE 78.9 WEST. ALBERTO IS
MOVING TOWARD THE WEST-SOUTHWEST NEAR 6 MPH...9 KM/H...AND THIS
GENERAL MOTION WITH A DECREASE IN FORWARD SPEED IS EXPECTED TODAY.
A TURN TOWARD THE NORTHEAST IS FORECAST ON MONDAY.

MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS REMAIN NEAR 50 MPH...85 KM/H...WITH HIGHER
GUSTS.  LITTLE CHANGE IN STRENGTH IS FORECAST DURING THE NEXT 48
HOURS. 

TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 70 MILES...110 KM
FROM THE CENTER.

ESTIMATED MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE IS 998 MB...29.47 INCHES.


HAZARDS AFFECTING LAND
----------------------
WIND...TROPICAL STORM CONDITIONS ARE POSSIBLE ALONG THE COAST OF
SOUTH CAROLINA IN THE WATCH AREA LATER TODAY OR MONDAY.

SURF...DANGEROUS SURF CONDITIONS ARE POSSIBLE ALONG THE COASTS OF
GEORGIA AND SOUTH CAROLINA THROUGH MONDAY.  PLEASE SEE STATEMENTS
ISSUED BY YOUR LOCAL NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OFFICE FOR
INFORMATION SPECIFIC TO YOUR AREA. 

TROPICAL STORM ALBERTO DISCUSSION NUMBER   3
NWS NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL       AL012012
500 AM EDT SUN MAY 20 2012

ALBERTO APPEARS TO BE MAINTAINING ITS STRENGTH. SATELLITE AND RADAR
IMAGES SHOW THAT DEEP CONVECTION REFORMED NEAR THE CENTER OF THE
TROPICAL STORM OVERNIGHT WITH A BROKEN BAND OF THUNDERSTORM
ACTIVITY REMAINING TO THE NORTH OF THE CENTER. AN ASCAT PASS AROUND
0300 UTC SHOWED MAXIMUM WINDS NEAR 40 KT. BASED ON THE
SCATTEROMETER DATA AND THE RECENT INCREASE IN THUNDERSTORM
ACTIVITY...THE INITIAL INTENSITY IS HELD AT 45 KT. ALTHOUGH ALBERTO
LIES OVER THE RELATIVELY WARM WATERS OF THE GULF STREAM...DRY AIR
IN THE VICINITY OF THE CYCLONE AND STRONG WEST-SOUTHWESTERLY SHEAR
SHOULD LIMIT THE INTENSIFICATION PROCESS. THE OFFICIAL INTENSITY
FORECAST IS SIMILAR TO THE PREVIOUS ONE AND SHOWS ALBERTO REMAINING
STEADY STATE FOR THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS. WEAKENING AND A
TRANSITION TO A POST-TROPICAL CYCLONE IS FORECAST BEYOND THAT TIME
WHEN ALBERTO MOVES OVER COOLER WATERS AND INTO AN AREA OF VERY
STRONG UPPER-LEVEL WINDS.

ALBERTO IS CURRENTLY MOVING WEST-SOUTHWESTWARD AT ABOUT 5 KT. THIS
GENERAL HEADING WITH A DECREASE IN FORWARD SPEED IS EXPECTED TODAY 
AS A DEEP-LAYER RIDGE OVER THE EASTERN UNITED STATES WEAKENS. THE
TROPICAL CYCLONE IS EXPECTED TO STALL OFF THE SOUTHEAST UNITED
STATES COAST TONIGHT AND EARLY MONDAY AS IT INTERACTIONS WITH AN
AREA OF LOW PRESSURE TO ITS NORTH NEAR THE MID-ATLANTIC STATES AND
A DEVELOPING LOW TO ITS SOUTHEAST.  THEREAFTER...A MID-TO
UPPER-LEVEL TROUGH MOVING ACROSS THE EASTERN UNITED STATES SHOULD
CAUSE ALBERTO...OR ITS POST-TROPICAL REMNANTS...TO ACCELERATE
NORTHEASTWARD OVER THE WESTERN ATLANTIC.  THE OFFICIAL TRACK
FORECAST HAS BEEN ADJUSTED SLIGHTLY EASTWARD TO BE IN BETTER
AGREEMENT WITH THE LATEST GUIDANCE. FUTURE ADJUSTMENTS IN THAT
DIRECTION MAY BE NECESSARY IF THE RECENT MODEL TRENDS CONTINUE.

FORECAST POSITIONS AND MAX WINDS

INIT  20/0900Z 31.7N  78.9W   45 KT  50 MPH
 12H  20/1800Z 31.4N  79.3W   45 KT  50 MPH
 24H  21/0600Z 31.2N  79.5W   45 KT  50 MPH
 36H  21/1800Z 31.6N  78.8W   45 KT  50 MPH
 48H  22/0600Z 32.8N  77.1W   45 KT  50 MPH
 72H  23/0600Z 36.2N  72.6W   40 KT  45 MPH...POST-TROPICAL
 96H  24/0600Z 39.0N  68.5W   35 KT  40 MPH...POST-TROPICAL
120H  25/0600Z...DISSIPATED

Tropical Storm Alberto Grows Stronger In The Atlantic

MIAMI, Florida -- Just two weeks before the official start of the Atlantic Hurricane Season, NOAA's National Huricane Center in Miami, Florida has issued a public advisory that a non-tropical low pressure system that had formed in the Atlantic Ocean 140 miles southeast of Charleston, South Carolina has now reached tropical storm strength.

The first named Atlantic storm of the 2012 season is Alberto.  Alberto is approximately 325 miles north-northeast of Cape Canaveral, Florida.


The low had quickly begun to acquire more tropical characteristics this morning.

  


8 AM UPDATE: NOAA Storm Tracker: Alberto Tropical Storm Watch In Effect



Earlier this morning, NOAA predicted that the non-tropical low had a low chance (20%) of becoming a subtropical or tropical cyclone during the next 48 hours.  However, NOAA updated its Special Tropical Weather Outlook at 11:55 a.m. today which called for a medium chance (50%) of becoming a subtropical or tropical cyclone during the next 48 hours.  Now, at 5:00 p.m., NOAA issued a notice that Alberto had formed:

6:50 PM UPDATE: Alberto Grows Stronger:

TROPICAL STORM ALBERTO TROPICAL CYCLONE UPDATE
NWS NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL       AL012012
650 PM EDT SAT MAY 19 2012

...SHIP INDICATES ALBERTO IS STRONGER...

REPORTS FROM A SHIP NEAR THE CENTER OF ALBERTO INDICATE THAT THE
CYCLONE IS STRONGER THAN PREVIOUSLY ESTIMATED.  BASED PRIMARILY ON
THE PRESSURE DATA...MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS ARE NOW ESTIMATED TO BE
60 MPH...95 KM/H.  LITTLE CHANGE IN STRENGTH IS EXPECTED OVER THE
NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS AND NO CHANGES TO THE OFFICIAL FORECAST ARE
REQUIRED AT THIS TIME.


SUMMARY OF 650 PM...2250 UTC...INFORMATION
--------------------------------------------------
LOCATION...32.2N 77.9W
ABOUT 130 MI...210 KM ESE OF CHARLESTON SOUTH CAROLINA
ABOUT 120 MI...190 KM S OF CAPE FEAR NORTH CAROLINA
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...60 MPH...95 KM/H
PRESENT MOVEMENT...SW OR 220 DEGREES AT 3 MPH...6 KM/H
MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...995 MB...29.38 INCHES

TROPICAL STORM ALBERTO DISCUSSION NUMBER 1
NWS NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL AL012012
500 PM EDT SAT MAY 19 2012


SATELLITE...RADAR...AND SURFACE DATA INDICATE THAT THE SMALL SURFACE
LOW LOCATED OFF THE COAST OF SOUTH CAROLINA HAS ACQUIRED THE
CHARACTERISTICS OF A TROPICAL CYCLONE. ORGANIZED DEEP CONVECTION
HAS BEEN PERSISTENT OVER THE CENTER FOR MORE THAN 18 HOURS...AND
THE CIRCULATION CENTER HAS BEEN MOVING SOUTH AWAY FROM AN AIRMASS
BOUNDARY THAT EXTENDS ROUGHLY ALONG 33N. BASED ON AN ASCAT PASS
FROM AROUND 1530 UTC...THE INITIAL INTENSITY IS SET AT 40 KT.
ALBERTO IS SITUATED IN A MARGINAL THERMODYNAMIC ENVIRONMENT FOR
STRENGTHENING...WITH A MARKEDLY DRY CONTINENTAL AIRMASS TO ITS NORTH
AND WEST OVER THE EASTERN CAROLINAS. GIVEN THIS...ONLY MODEST
INTENSIFICATION IS EXPECTED DESPITE THE CYCLONE BEING OVER
THE RELATIVELY WARM GULF STREAM. ALBERTO IS EXPECTED TO BECOME
EXTRATROPICAL BY 96 HOURS...AND SHOULD DISSIPATE BY DAY 5. THE NHC
INTENSITY FORECAST IS A BLEND OF THE MORE AGGRESSIVE STATISTICAL
GUIDANCE AND THE WEAKER DYNAMICAL MODELS.

THE LOW-LEVEL CIRCULATION IS A BIT TO THE EAST OF THE COLDEST CLOUD
TOPS AND THE CIRCULATION CENTER SEEN ON RADAR...AND THE INITIAL
MOTION ESTIMATE IS 220/03. THE SYNOPTIC ENVIRONMENT IS COMPLEX...AS
ALBERTO IS IN A REGION OF WEAK STEERING FLOW WITHIN A BROAD
MID/UPPER-LEVEL TROUGH. THE NHC FORECAST SHOWS A SLOW SOUTHWESTWARD
MOTION OVER THE NEXT DAY OR SO DUE TO THE STRONG NORTHEASTERLY FLOW
BETWEEN A SURFACE RIDGE EAST OF THE APPALACHIANS AND A LARGER
EXTRATROPICAL LOW CENTERED NEAR 36N/72W. AS THAT LOW MOVES WESTWARD
AND WEAKENS BY SUNDAY NIGHT...ALBERTO IS EXPECTED TO TURN NORTHWARD
AND THEN ACCELERATE NORTHEASTWARD AFTER 48 HOURS AS A SHORTWAVE
TROUGH MOVES INTO THE EASTERN UNITED STATES AND THE STEERING FLOW
BECOMES SOUTHWESTERLY. GIVEN THE SMALL SIZE OF ALBERTO AND THE
COMPLEX STEERING PATTERN...IT IS NOT SURPRISING THAT THE TRACK
MODEL GUIDANCE SHOWS A LARGE AMOUNT OF SPREAD...BOTH IN TERMS OF
HOW FAR SOUTH AND WEST ALBERTO WILL MOVE...AND HOW SHARP THE TURN
TOWARD THE NORTHEAST WILL BE. THE NHC TRACK FORECAST IS GENERALLY
CLOSE TO THE TVCA MULTI-MODEL CONSENSUS...AND IS OF VERY LOW
CONFIDENCE.

A TROPICAL STORM WATCH COULD BE REQUIRED FOR A PORTION OF THE COAST
OF THE CAROLINAS THIS EVENING.

ALBERTO IS EARLIEST-FORMING TROPICAL STORM IN THE ATLANTIC BASIN
SINCE ANA IN 2003. THIS IS ALSO THE FIRST TIME THAT A TROPICAL
STORM HAS FORMED BEFORE THE OFFICIAL START OF THE HURRICANE SEASON
IN BOTH THE ATLANTIC AND EAST PACIFIC BASINS.

TROPICAL STORM ALBERTO ADVISORY NUMBER   1
NWS NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL       AL012012
500 PM EDT SAT MAY 19 2012

...FIRST TROPICAL STORM OF THE ATLANTIC SEASON FORMS OFF THE COAST
OF SOUTH CAROLINA...


SUMMARY OF 500 PM EDT...2100 UTC...INFORMATION
----------------------------------------------
LOCATION...32.2N 77.7W
ABOUT 140 MI...225 KM ESE OF CHARLESTON SOUTH CAROLINA
ABOUT 120 MI...190 KM S OF CAPE FEAR NORTH CAROLINA
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...45 MPH...75 KM/H
PRESENT MOVEMENT...SW OR 220 DEGREES AT 3 MPH...6 KM/H
MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...1007 MB...29.74 INCHES


WATCHES AND WARNINGS
--------------------
THERE ARE NO COASTAL WATCHES OR WARNINGS IN EFFECT.

A TROPICAL STORM WATCH MAY BE NEEDED FOR A PORTION OF THE COAST OF
THE CAROLINAS TONIGHT. 


DISCUSSION AND 48-HOUR OUTLOOK
------------------------------
AT 500 PM EDT...2100 UTC...THE CENTER OF TROPICAL STORM ALBERTO WAS
LOCATED NEAR LATITUDE 32.2 NORTH...LONGITUDE 77.7 WEST. ALBERTO IS
MOVING TOWARD THE SOUTHWEST NEAR 3 MPH...6 KM/H...AND A SLOW
SOUTHWESTWARD MOTION IS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE THROUGH SUNDAY.  A
TURN TOWARD THE WEST-NORTHWEST AND THEN TOWARD THE NORTH AND
NORTHEAST IS EXPECTED BY MONDAY.  

MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS ARE NEAR 45 MPH...75 KM/H...WITH HIGHER
GUSTS. SOME STRENGTHENING IS POSSIBLE OVER THE NEXT DAY OR SO. 

TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 45 MILES...75 KM
FROM THE CENTER.

ESTIMATED MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE IS 1007 MB...29.74 INCHES.


HAZARDS AFFECTING LAND
----------------------
NONE

Non-Tropical Low Quickly Strengthens

 

MIAMI, Florida -- Just two weeks before the official start of the Atlantic Hurricane Season, NOAA's National Huricane Center in Miami, Florida has issued a Special Tropical Weather Outlook due to a non-tropical low pressure system that has formed in the Atlantic Ocean 120 miles southeast of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.  The low is approximately 300 miles north-northeast of Cape Canaveral, Florida.



8 AM UPDATE: NOAA Storm Tracker: Alberto Tropical Storm Watch In Effect

The low has begun to aquire more tropical characteristics and it could become a tropical storm or tropical depression in the next day or so as it moves southward or westward. 

 

Earlier this morning, NOAA predicted that the non-tropical low had a low chance (20%) of becoming a subtropical or tropical cyclone during the next 48 hours.  However, NOAA has updated its Special Tropical Weather Outlook at 11:55 a.m. today which calls for a medium chance (50%) of becoming a subtropical or tropical cyclone during the next 48 hours.


Elsewhere in the Atlantic Ocean, tropical cyclone formation is not expected during the next 48 hours:

SPECIAL TROPICAL WEATHER OUTLOOK
NWS NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL
1155 AM EDT SAT MAY 19 2012

FOR THE NORTH ATLANTIC...CARIBBEAN SEA AND THE GULF OF MEXICO...

SATELLITE AND RADAR IMAGERY INDICATE THAT THE AREA OF LOW PRESSURE
LOCATED ABOUT 120 MILES SOUTHEAST OF MYRTLE BEACH SOUTH CAROLINA
HAS BEGUN TO ACQUIRE MORE TROPICAL CHARACTERISTICS...AS SHOWERS AND
THUNDERSTORMS HAVE INCREASED NEAR THE CIRCULATION CENTER.
ADDITIONAL DEVELOPMENT OF THIS SYSTEM IS POSSIBLE...AND IT COULD
BECOME A TROPICAL DEPRESSION OR TROPICAL STORM AS IT MOVES SLOWLY
SOUTHWARD OR WESTWARD OVER THE NEXT DAY OR SO. THIS SYSTEM HAS A
MEDIUM CHANCE...50 PERCENT...OF BECOMING A TROPICAL CYCLONE DURING
THE NEXT 48 HOURS. FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON THIS SYSTEM...
PLEASE SEE PRODUCTS FROM YOUR LOCAL NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE
OFFICE. ADDITIONAL SPECIAL TROPICAL WEATHER OUTLOOKS WILL BE
ISSUED ON THIS SYSTEM LATER TODAY OR SUNDAY...IF NECESSARY.
 

Brevard County Obituaries Saturday May 19, 2012

Nick A. Di Martino, Jr., 52, of Melbourne, Florida, died May 16, 2012.

Arrangements by:
Brownlie - Maxwell Funeral Home
Melbourne, Florida
Phone 321-723-2345   

Scott A. Joyner, 47, of Malabar, Florida, died May 16, 2012.

Arrangements by:
Brownlie - Maxwell Funeral Home
Melbourne, Florida
Phone 321-723-2345