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Alberto losing steam over South CarolinaStorm drenches Florida but causes no major problems
YOUR E-MAIL ALERTSMIAMI, Florida (CNN) -- Alberto -- the first named storm of the Atlantic's 2006 hurricane season -- weakened to a tropical depression over South Carolina early Wednesday. In its 5 a.m. EDT advisory, the National Hurricane Center said Alberto was centered about 35 miles south-southwest of Columbia, South Carolina. "Alberto is forecast to lose tropical characteristics later this morning," the center said. "However, some re-strengthening is possible during its transition to an extratropical cyclone." Alberto had been a tropical storm, making landfall Tuesday on Florida's Gulf Coast, rumbling through Georgia and South Carolina with 40 mph winds and heavy rains. In the latest advisory, all tropical storm warnings have been discontinued. Alberto was traveling north-northeast at near 21 mph and an increase in forward speed was expected over the next 24 hours. Maximum sustained winds are near 35 mph with higher gusts. Total rainfall amounts of 2 to 4 inches and isolated amounts of 6 inches are "possible through this evening from central and eastern North Carolina into southeastern Virginia," the NHC said. Tornadoes are possible over northern coastal South Carolina and southeastern North Carolina. The tracking map places the storm over the Atlantic, off the Eastern U.S. coast about level with New Jersey, by 8 a.m. Thursday. Alberto's poorly formed center made landfall near Adams Beach, Florida, about 12:30 p.m. ET Tuesday, the NHC said. (Watch how Alberto soaked parts of Florida -- 2:27) Alberto drove a 4- to 5-foot storm surge ashore in Levy and Dixie counties, in the state's marshy Big Bend region, and the storm was expected to dump 6 inches of rain inland, State Meteorologist Ben Nelson said. Mandatory evacuations remained in effect for mobile-home residents and low-lying areas and coastal areas in several counties. Meanwhile, officials urged residents to be careful amid downed power lines and lingering rough surf. "There's no need for anyone to lose their life to a tropical storm like this," Nelson said. Florida officials were relieved -- but wary. "I hope all of the storms that hit us this year are tropical storms and not hurricanes," Florida Gov. Jeb Bush told reporters earlier Tuesday. The 450 National Guard troops placed on standby ahead of the storm have not been called up and may not be needed, Bush said. Although some canals and rivers are rising in Taylor and Dixie counties, no rescues have been needed. Just 300 people gathered in the 17 shelters opened ahead of the storm, Bush said. 
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