User:CooperScience/Subtropical Storm Alberto

Subtropical Storm Alberto was the first tropical or subtropical cyclone to enter the Gulf of Mexico in the month of of May since 1976, as well as the strongest observed in that month since Hurricane Able in 1951. The first named storm of the 2018 Atlantic hurricane season, Alberto developed from a tropical disturbance that formed from a Central American gyre on May 21. The disturbance gradually organized as it tracked slowly westward. Upon turning northward while near the Yucatán Peninsula, the disturbance organized sufficiently to be classified as Subtropical Storm Alberto on May 25. Strong wind shear limited strengthening as the storm meandered over the northwestern Caribbean Sea. As it entered the Gulf of Mexico, however, Alberto began to gradually strengthen under more favorable environmental conditions. Early on May 28, Alberto reached its peak intensity with maximum sustained winds of 65 mph (100 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 990 mbar (hPa), making it the second most intense tropical or subtropical cyclone observed in the month of May in the Atlantic basin, only behind Hurricane Able in 1951. The cyclone weakened slightly before making landfall on the Florida panhandle late on May 28.

Meteorological history
On May 21, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) began tracking a broad area of low pressure that had formed over the western Caribbean Sea from the interaction between an upper-level low and a surface trough. The disturbance gradually organized as it tracked generally westward toward the Yucatán Peninsula. At 11:30 UTC on May 25, the disturbance had organized sufficiently to be classified as Subtropical Storm Alberto while located 55 miles (90 kilometers) south of Cozumel, Mexico. At the time, the cyclone's structure was rather disorganized, consisting of multiple low-level circulations. Due to strong westerly wind shear, Alberto strengthened little and remained a rather disorganized system as it meandered over the northwestern Caribbean Sea. Upon entering the Gulf of Mexico on May 27, Alberto entered an environment more conducive for intensification, with warm sea surface temperatures and low wind shear. At 03:00 UTC, the cyclone's center reformed slightly to the northeast of Cuba, and Alberto began to intensify. Early on May 28, Alberto reached its peak intensity with maximum sustained winds of 65 mph (100 km/h). Due to dry air intrusion, the storm failed to transition to a fully tropical cyclone and weakened before making landfall near Laguna Beach, Florida at 21:00 UTC.

Northwestern Caribbean
Upon the classification of Alberto as a subtropical storm, the Government of Mexico issued a tropical storm watch for the east coast of the Yucatán Peninsula from Tulum to Cabo Catoche. The Government of Cuba also issued a tropical storm watch for the province of Pinar Del Rio. The tropical storm watch for the east coast of the Yucatán Peninsula was discontinued at 12:00 UTC on May 26, while the tropical storm watch for Pinar Del Rio was replaced with a tropical storm warning three hours later.

More than 5,000 people were evacuated in Cuba ahead of the storm's arrival, 3,000 from the province of Sancti Spiritus and another 2,000 from the province of Villa Clara.

United States
Multiple tropical storm watches and warnings were issued across the Gulf Coast of the United States in preparation for Alberto's arrival. The first advisories were issued at 21:00 UTC on May 25, with a tropical storm watch being issued from Indian Pass, Florida westward to Grand Isle, Louisiana, and a storm surge watch being issued from Horseshoe Beach, Florida to the mouth of the Mississippi River. At 15:00 UTC the following day, a tropical storm warning was issued for the Dry Tortugas in the Florida Keys, and the storm surge watch on the Gulf Coast of the United States was extended eastward to Crystal River, Florida. At 21:00 UTC, tropical storm warnings were issued for the west coast of Florida from Bonita Beach to the Anclote River, and for the northern Gulf Coast from the Aucilla River westward to the Mississippi/Alabama border. At 09:00 UTC the following day, a tropical storm warning was issued for the area between the Anclote River and the Aucilla River. Six hours later, the tropical storm warning for the Dry Tortugas, the tropical storm watch along the north-central Gulf Coast, and the storm surge watch west of the Florida/Alabama border were all discontinued. Thereafter, parts of the warning along the Florida peninsula were gradually discontinued as Alberto neared landfall. A state of emergency was declared for the states of Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida, where Alberto was expected to have the greatest impacts.

Alberto produced heavy rainfall across the Gulf Coast states, causing flash flooding regionwide. In North Carolina, WYFF News 4 anchor Mike McCormick and photojournalist Aaron Smeltzer died while covering the storm after a tree felled by strong winds and heavy rainfall struck their vehicle.