First tropical storm of 2006 swirling off Cuba

First tropical storm of 2006 swirling off Cuba

This NOAA satellite image taken Sunday, June 11, 2006 at 03:15 AM EDT
shows clouds associated with Alberto spinning in the southern Gulf of
Mexico.(AP PHOTO/WEATHER UNDERGROUND)

CTV.ca News Staff

Updated: Sun. Jun. 11 2006 2:26 PM ET

A tropical depression swirling off the coast of Cuba has gathered
strength, and has been upgraded to the first tropical storm of the season.

The storm, which has been dubbed Alberto, formed in the Caribbean Sea on
Saturday, according to the U.S. National Hurricane Centre.

Alberto had sustained winds of 72 km/h, and was headed towards the
northeast.

The storm was located about 650 kilometres off the Florida coast by
Sunday morning, kicking off a hurricane season that scientists predict
could produce as many as 16 named storms -- including six major hurricanes.

However, the storm was not expected to become a hurricane.

"It will be relatively weak in terms of wind, but that doesn't mean it's
going to be weak in terms of rainfall,'' senior hurricane specialist
Stacy Stewart told The Associated Press.

Last year's hurricane season was the most destructive in 154 years of
record keeping.

Hurricane Katrina devastated Louisiana and Mississippi and was blamed
for more than 1,570 deaths in Louisiana alone.

The 2005 Atlantic hurricane season brought 28 named storms and 15
hurricanes.

Alberto was expected to make landfall in Florida on Monday or Tuesday,
after moving through the Yucatan Channel and the southeastern Gulf of
Mexico, according to forecasters.

In Florida, officials urged residents to prepare for the start of the
hurricane season.

http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20060611/tropical_storm_060611/20060611?hub=TopStories