Gulf States In Subtropical Storm Alberto's Path

Subtropical Storm Alberto headed toward anticipated landfall sometime Monday on the northern Gulf Coast, where white sandy beaches emptied of their usual Memorial Day crowds. And just as the long holiday weekend marked summer's unofficial start in the U.S., Alberto gave the unofficial start of what forecasters recently predicted would be an active hurricane season.

The National Hurricane Center in Miami said at 2 p.m. EDT Monday that Alberto was maintaining its strength as it approached the Florida Panhandle and was centered about 30 miles south-southwest of Panama City, Florida. The storm that was expected to make landfall later Monday had maximum sustained winds of 50 mph and was moving north at 8 mph.

On Sunday, a preview of Alberto's impact was seen in Cuba, where the island experienced four inches of rain in less than eight hours, CBS News correspondent Manuel Bojorquez reports from Panama City.

Forecasters warned of life-threatening surf conditions, the possibility of a few brief tornadoes in much of Florida and parts of Georgia, South Carolina and Alabama. And, it said, heavy rains are also expected in many areas.

"Given the short period of time before Alberto makes landfall, its overall ragged appearance, and proximity to dry air, little change in strength is expected before the subtropical storm reaches the coast," said John Cangialosi, a hurricane specialist at the hurricane center.

Once Alberto is inland, and deprived of the warm waters that fuel tropical weather systems, the storm was expected to steadily weaken. A subtropical storm like Alberto has a less defined and cooler center than a tropical storm, and its strongest winds are found farther from its center. Subtropical storms can develop into tropical storms, which in turn can strengthen into hurricanes.

Rough conditions were expected to roil the seas off the eastern and northern Gulf Coast region through Tuesday.

Lifeguards posted red flags along the white sands of Pensacola Beach, where swimming and wading were banned amid high surf and dangerous conditions.

"People are not allowed to go in the water," Bay County Sheriff Tommy Ford said. "There could be legal consequences if they go in the water because they are very dangerous."

Gusty showers began lashing parts of Florida on Sunday, and authorities warned of the possibility of flash flooding. The hurricane center said a tropical storm warning was in effect from the Suwannee River in Florida to the Mississippi-Alabama state line.

About 400 customers along Florida's Tampa Bay and in the Panhandle were without power Monday morning, according to Florida's Division of Emergency Management.

Mark Bowen, the Bay County Emergency management director, said Alberto's biggest threat would be its heavy rains, with forecasts of anywhere from four to 12 inches of rain in some areas. Storm surge flooding was less of a concern because Alberto's arrival would not coincide with high tide, he said.

Some tourists said the rainy weather would not dampen their vacations.

Janet Rhumes said her group of friends from Kansas had been planning their Memorial Day weekend on Navarre Beach since October, and no tropical storm could deter them.

"We've never seen one before and we're here celebrating a friend's 20th birthday," Rhumes told the Northwest Florida Daily News. "So how often can you say you rode a storm out?"

Rhumes said her group prepared for the storm by stocking up on groceries.

"We're going to play cards and if there's a break, we'll head down to the beach," she said. "We'll hang out and see how it goes."

Some tourists said the rainy weather would not dampen their vacations.

Janet Rhumes said her group of friends from Kansas had been planning their Memorial Day weekend on Navarre Beach since October, and no tropical storm could deter them.

"We've never seen one before and we're here celebrating a friend's 20th birthday," Rhumes told the Northwest Florida Daily News. "So how often can you say you rode a storm out?"

Rhumes said her group prepared for the storm by stocking up on groceries.

"We're going to play cards and if there's a break, we'll head down to the beach," she said. "We'll hang out and see how it goes."