MIAMI — Tropical Storm Alberto formed off the South Carolina coast on Saturday, bringing an early start to the Atlantic hurricane season, forecasters at the U.S. National Hurricane Center said.
Alberto had top sustained winds of 45 miles per hour and was in the Atlantic about 140 miles east-southeast of Charleston. It was moving slowly southwest and forecasters said a storm watch might be posted later on Saturday for part of the North and South Carolina coast.
Tropical storm force winds extend out 45 miles from the center, and the storm was moving at 3 mph.
Alberto was forecast to make a slow loop during the next few days and then turn northeast, making its way along the U.S. mid-Atlantic seaboard before dissipating in about five days.
"A slow southwestward motion is expected to continue through Sunday," the hurricane center stated. "A turn toward the west-northeast and then toward the north and northeast is expected by Monday."
"Some strengthening is possible over the next day or so," it added.
The season officially runs from June 1 to Nov. 30, but storms outside that time frame are not uncommon.
Reuters contributed to this report.
