13 June 2006

Alberto makes landfall...

At around 16Z today, Alberto came ashore near Dekle Beach, FL as a 45kt tropical storm.  The MSLP was 996mb -- coastal locations to the east of the landfall point are experiencing 5-7' storm surges due to the shape and bathymetry of this portion of Florida (very easy to get big surges).
You can view a radar loop of the entire approach and landfall at
http://einstein.atmos.colostate.edu/~mcnoldy/tropics/alberto06/Alberto_12-13Jun06.gif
Of note is the burst of deep convection near the circulation center as it comes inland, indicating enhanced frictional inflow.  This is a fairly common, though ephemeral, last gasp of a tropical cyclone.

So far, 4 tornadoes have been reported in association with Alberto, and that threat remains high today in northern FL and eastern GA and SC.  The other significant threat is flash flooding.  It is forecast to zip off to the northeast as it merges with a mid-latitude trough, losing tropical characteristics as it does so.

Elsewhere, an easterly wave that exited the African coast on June 7 is now located near the Windward Islands.  It's been moving west at 15kts and still disorganized, but will be watched!  There is also a wave exiting Africa today, which had its root in the Ethiopian Highlands back on June 7.  You can track waves' progress across the tropical Atlantic and Africa at http://einstein.atmos.colostate.edu/~mcnoldy/tropics/hovmoller/atlantic/

Please visit my tropical Atlantic headquarters.

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