Alberto forecast to stay offshore; tropical storm watch remains

By the CNN Wire Staff

May 20, 2012 -- Updated 2029 GMT (0429 HKT)

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

• NEW: Alberto is about 95 miles southeast of Savannah, Georgia
• NEW: The storm is expected to speed up and head northeast Monday night
• Alberto is the first named tropical storm of the 2012 Atlantic hurricane season

(CNN) -- Although Tropical Storm Alberto remained offshore, a swath of coastal South Carolina could experience tropical storm conditions Sunday and Monday, the National Hurricane Center said.

Alberto, the first named tropical storm of the 2012 Atlantic hurricane season, formed Saturday in the Atlantic. As of Sunday afternoon, the center of Alberto was located about 95 miles southeast of Savannah, Georgia, and about 110 miles south of Charleston, South Carolina. It was moving west-southwest at about 6 mph, forecasters said.

Alberto was slightly weakened Sunday, with maximum sustained winds of about 45 mph. While the center of the storm is forecast to remain offshore from Georgia and South Carolina, a tropical storm watch was in effect from the Savannah River -- the Georgia-South Carolina border -- north to South Santee River, South Carolina.

"Alberto is expected to slow down and move little through Monday," according to the National Hurricane Center. However, it was expected to speed up and move northeast Monday night and Tuesday. The forecast track shows Alberto moving up the coast, brushing North Carolina before heading further offshore.

Tropical storm conditions were possible later Sunday and Monday, the hurricane center said. Dangerous surf conditions were also possible along the coasts of Georgia and South Carolina.

Tropical storm-force winds extended up to 70 miles from Alberto's center.

The National Weather Service in Charleston said Alberto's strongest winds would remain offshore, but some associated rain showers would affect the coast, although heavy rainfall was not expected.

Despite being over the warm waters of the Gulf Stream, Alberto is not expected to intensify much over the next couple of days. That is due, in part, to the presence of a cool and dry air mass to the north and west of the tropical storm, CNN meteorologist Sean Morris said.

This year marks the first time in recorded history that a tropical storm has formed in both the east Pacific basin and Atlantic basin before the official start of hurricane season, the hurricane center said. The Pacific storm was called Aletta.

The Atlantic hurricane season officially begins on June 1.

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