Subtropical Storm Alberto made landfall Monday afternoon not far from Panama City Beach in Laguna Beach, pounding the area with wind and rain.
The First Alert Weather Team reports storm surge as high as three feet in parts of the Florida panhandle along with wind gusts of 50 mph.
MORE: Alberto impacts on Jacksonville: Heavy rain, 40 mph winds, high rip currents
Alberto left the Gulf of Mexico looking uncharacteristically angry, with waves as high as about eight feet.
“It looks pretty crazy out there,” said Panama City Beach resident Wyatt Slocum. “The waves are really big. I haven’t seen anything like that in the Gulf.”
#firstalertwx it's official.... @ 4:40pm from @NHC_Atlantic - Alberto landfall at Laguna Beach, Fl., a little northwest of Panama City - will continue to move inland over the Panhandle @WOKVNews pic.twitter.com/2GNRnjr7YR
— Mike Buresh (@MikeFirstAlert) May 28, 2018
Post-Alberto, officials all down the panhandle are still warning about dangerous rip currents.
Alberto meant a washout for many for Memorial Day plans.
“We got to go to the beach a couple times,” said vacationer Thomas Skelton. “We didn’t get in the water though, for sure.”
“(That was) kind of a bummer, but we still got some time to relax,” he added.
Seeing strongest gusts so far here in Panama City Beach. Signs, red flags & beachgoers having a hard time in it. #Alberto @ActionNewsJax #firstalertwx @WOKVNews pic.twitter.com/Jj2OseO7S8
— Russell Colburn (@RussellANjax) May 28, 2018
Chief Meteorologist Mike Buresh reports Alberto is the fifth named storm to hit Florida since 2016, following Hermine, Julia, Emily, and Irma.
Buresh said Matthew did not make a landfall on Florida coastline.
Here we go. Panama City Beach is getting worse by the minute. @ActionNewsJax #Alberto #firstalertwx pic.twitter.com/ueEFvt7KNd
— Russell Colburn (@RussellANjax) May 28, 2018
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