NU Online News Service, May 21, 11:56 a.m. EST

Tropical Storm Alberto made an early-season appearance in the Atlantic basin over the weekend forming off the Carolina coast on Saturday, but forecasters say the storm poses no threat to land.

The National Weather Service first reported Tropical Storm Alberto at 5 p.m. EDT Saturday.

The storm reached a top speed of 50 mph on Sunday morning with its approach closest to land at 8 a.m. EDT when it was 95 miles south-southeast of Charleston, S.C.

Alberto's position early this morning was 165 miles south of Charleston, S.C. and 100 miles east-northeast of St. Augustine, Fla.

The storm is expected to remain well offshore for the rest of the week as it moves away from the coast.

The storm made its debut two weeks before the start of the hurricane season, which officially begins June 1.

This is the earliest named storm since 2007, when Tropical Storm Andrea appeared in early May.

Forecasters so far are calling for a less-active Atlantic Hurricane Season this year.

In early April, Colorado State University forecasters said this year's season would see 10 named storms, four of which will become hurricanes and two major hurricanes.

Later in the April, Weather Service International issued a prediction of 11 tropical storms, six of which will become hurricanes and, of those, two of which will be major with winds above 111 mph.

Special Reports /

Tropical Storm Alberto Forms Weeks Before Hurricane Season Begins

Related Stories

Recommended For You