Tropical Storm Alberto (2018)

Basin

North Atlantic

Dates

May 25, 2018 to May 31, 2018

Peak strength

Tropical Storm, 55 kt (63 mph)

Lowest pressure

990 mb (29.23 inHg)

Landfall

Yes

Accumulated cyclone energy

1.1

Tropical-storm-force wind reached

120 nmi (222 km, 138 mi) from the center at its widest

Eyewall radius at its peak

40 nmi (74 km, 46 mi)

Overall size

220 nmi (407 km, 253 mi) to the outermost closed isobar

Peak gust in the best track

65 kt (75 mph)

Fastest the center moved

27 kt (31 mph)

Identifier

AL012018

Radar at KEVX as it neared land, May 28, 21:00 UTC

The sources count different things and are not added together.

Landfall points the US agencies flagged in the best track. The nearest town is named from the site’s gazetteer, not from the report.

NOAA’s Storm Events database, the record National Weather Service offices compile months after a storm, as compiled March 2026.

Deaths

1 (1 direct, 0 indirect)

Injuries

0

Property damage

$521,400

Crop damage

$100

Events recorded

196 in 33 reports from 16 states and marine areas

State by state

What was recorded

58 marine thunderstorm wind, 56 thunderstorm wind, 26 flash flood, 21 tropical storm, 12 tropical depression, 12 strong wind, 3 tornado, 2 marine tropical storm, 2 hail, 2 flood, 2 lightning.

3 tornadoes recorded in the United States, strongest first.

The Weather Prediction Center attributes 6,698 rain gauge totals over the contiguous United States to this storm. The wettest reached 12.30 inches (312 mm).

WPC’s storm rainfall file, 1900 to 2020, compiled by David Roth.

The strongest winds National Weather Service offices recorded with this storm. An estimated figure is a forecaster’s judgment from the damage, not an instrument reading.

From the Storm Events narratives, unedited.

Occasional subtropical storm force wind gusts occurred at Smith Shoal Light, located outside the Northwest Channel out of Key West in the southeast Gulf of Mexico. The maximum wind gust recorded was 40 knots at 6:46 pm EST on May 26, 2018. No sustained subtropical storm force wind gusts were recorded at Smith Shoal Light, nor Pulaski Shoal Light near Dry Tortugas National Park.

Gulf of Mexico From East Cape Sable To Chokoloskee 20 To 60 Nm Out and Beyond 5 Fathoms, Gulf of Mexico · Marine Tropical Storm · May 26, 23:16 UTC

Subtropical Storm Alberto formed in the northwestern Caribbean Sea on the morning of May 25th and moved north through through the eastern Gulf before making landfall near Laguna Beach Florida on the afternoon of the 28th with a minimum central pressure of 990mb. COMPS Buoy 20 miles southwest of Longboat Key recorded a wind gust of 57 knots...65 mph.

Englewood To Tarpon Springs Fl Out 20nm, Gulf of Mexico · Marine Tropical Storm · May 27, 12:00 UTC

Subtropical Storm Alberto formed in the northwestern Caribbean Sea on the morning of May 25th and moved north through through the eastern Gulf before making landfall near Laguna Beach Florida on the afternoon of the 28th with a minimum central pressure of 990mb. Storm surge was confined to no more than 2 feet over Levy and Citrus counties, with minimal flooding and beach erosion impacts. The storm total rainfall across the area was mostly around 1 to 2 inches, although isolated areas saw higher amounts with the highest reported total being 6.60 inches at Dover in Hillsborough County. A mesonet station near Archbold reported a tropical storm wind gust of 41 mph.

Highlands, Florida · Tropical Storm · May 27, 15:15 UTC

Subtropical Storm Alberto formed in the northwestern Caribbean Sea on the morning of May 25th and moved north through through the eastern Gulf before making landfall near Laguna Beach Florida on the afternoon of the 28th with a minimum central pressure of 990mb. Storm surge was confined to no more than 2 feet over Levy and Citrus counties, with minimal flooding and beach erosion impacts. The storm total rainfall across the area was mostly around 1 to 2 inches, although isolated areas saw higher amounts with the highest reported total being 6.60 inches at Dover in Hillsborough County. A mesonet station near Holiday reported a tropical storm wind gust of 41 mph.

Pinellas, Florida · Tropical Storm · May 27, 21:28 UTC

The remnants of Tropical Storm Alberto produced sustained winds of 20-30 mph with higher gusts. The peak wind at the Northwest Alabama Regional Airport in Muscle Shoals (KMSL) was 36 mph between 1600 and 1700 LST. Rainfall amounts of 2 to 4 inches were common with a few areas receiving 4 to 8 inches in western portions of Lauderdale County. This produced flash flooding at least at 13 locations. Trees were knocked down at least at 36 locations.

Lauderdale, Alabama · Tropical Depression · May 29, 16:00 UTC

Video of the landspout was obtained via social media. A well-formed landspout occurred in open agricultural fields just east of Interstate 35 near Ames. The landspout remained in ag fields with the only damage to emerging crops as it drifted just west of due north under developing thunderstorms.

Story, Iowa · Tornado · May 29, 20:58 UTC

Numerous trees were blown down with minor exterior damage to several homes in the neighborhood around Dugout Road and Gulley Drive. Witnesses reported a trampoline being lifted into the air and blown in a spiral pattern. A NWS storm survey determined damage was too minor and sparse to be considered a tornado. However, radar data indicates this may have been a brief EF0 tornado.

Lawrence, Tennessee · Thunderstorm Wind · May 29, 21:00 UTC

Trained spotter reported several large tree limbs and even a few trees snapped at the base throughout the town of Thor. One tree was roughly 18 inches in diameter and about 50 feet tall and snapped at the base. Some houses had trees that fell on their roof, unknown extent of damage at the time. Time was estimated from radar.

Humboldt, Iowa · Thunderstorm Wind · May 29, 21:55 UTC

Strong winds associated with the circulation of Tropical Depression Alberto blew down numerous trees and power lines all across Dickson County resulting in widespread power outages. Roads that were blocked and closed by fallen trees included Bluebird Lane, College Street, Wildcat Road, and Patterson Street at Center Avenue in Dickson. A tree also fell onto a house on North Mt Sinai Road south of Dickson, and a large tree branch fell onto and damaged a car on Tidwell Switch Road southeast of Dickson. A trampoline was blown into the air and struck a car on Yellow Creek Road, causing severe damage to the vehicle.

Dickson, Tennessee · Strong Wind · May 30, 02:00 UTC

Emergency Management reported several roads experienced flooding in Towns County. The Enchanted Valley Resort RV park and River Bend Campground were evacuated due to high water from the Hiwassee River. Two cows and a cat were killed as a result of the flash flooding near the River Bend Campground. Additionally, a small mudslide occurred at Unicoi Gap.

Towns, Georgia · Flash Flood · May 30, 07:00 UTC

The Emergency Manager reported several road closures as a result of flash flooding, including: Tray Mountain Road north of Rice Cabin Falls, Chastain Road, Bean Creek Road near Highway 356, and State Route 75 between Robertstown and Unicoi Gap.

White, Georgia · Flash Flood · May 30, 08:00 UTC

Water was partially over U.S. Highway 62 on the west side of Paducah. Fast-moving floodwater from Champion Creek was flowing over Highway 994.

Mccracken, Kentucky · Flash Flood · May 30, 12:20 UTC

Significant flooding in the city of Marion. Portions of Highway 14 underwater. Several homes on East Lafayette Street near Rice Creek flooded and water rescues required. Portions of Hghway 219 underwater and impassable. Several bridges washed out on Highway 183 near the city of Marion. A Flash Flash Flood Emergency was issued for a large portion of Perry County.

Perry, Alabama · Flash Flood · May 30, 13:00 UTC

A tornado briefly touched down just south of Ohio Route 718, destroying an outbuilding and causing damage to several trees. The outbuilding was completely destroyed with part of the structure landing on an adjacent garage. Parts of the tin roofing were strewn into adjacent properties and across Ohio Route 718. A photograph taken near the damaged location showed a funnel cloud extending nearly to the ground and eyewitness reports from an adjacent residence confirmed a brief touchdown with debris being lofted into the air.

Miami, Ohio · Tornado · May 31, 00:46 UTC

• Hurricane BerylNorth Atlantic · 2018Cat 170 kt · 991 mb
• Hurricane ChrisNorth Atlantic · 2018Cat 290 kt · 969 mb
• Tropical Storm DebbyNorth Atlantic · 2018Tropical Storm45 kt · 998 mb
• Tropical Storm ErnestoNorth Atlantic · 2018Tropical Storm40 kt · 999 mb
• Hurricane FlorenceNorth Atlantic · 2018 · 32 deathsCat 4130 kt · 937 mb
• Tropical Storm GordonNorth Atlantic · 2018Tropical Storm60 kt · 996 mb
• Hurricane IsaacNorth Atlantic · 2018Cat 165 kt · 995 mb
• Hurricane HeleneNorth Atlantic · 2018Cat 295 kt · 967 mb
• Tropical Storm JoyceNorth Atlantic · 2018Tropical Storm45 kt · 995 mb
• Unnamed tropical depressionNorth Atlantic · 2018Tropical Depression30 kt · 1007 mb
• Hurricane LeslieNorth Atlantic · 2018 · 11 deathsCat 180 kt · 968 mb
• Tropical Storm KirkNorth Atlantic · 2018Tropical Storm55 kt · 998 mb
• Hurricane MichaelNorth Atlantic · 2018 · 72 deaths · $15 billionCat 5140 kt · 919 mb
• Tropical Storm NadineNorth Atlantic · 2018Tropical Storm55 kt · 995 mb
• Hurricane OscarNorth Atlantic · 2018Cat 295 kt · 952 mb

A best track is the record a warning agency settles on after the storm, not what it said at the time: position, maximum sustained wind and central pressure every six hours, revised against every observation that came in later. Category is the Saffir-Simpson scale, which runs from Category 1 at 64 kt to Category 5 at 137 kt and reads wind only, so it says nothing about surge or rain. Accumulated cyclone energy adds up the square of the wind through the storm's life, so it counts strength and duration together.

Storm history from NOAA NCEI’s International Best Track Archive for Climate Stewardship (IBTrACS), which merges the official best track of every warning agency. Live storms, cones, watches and warnings from the National Hurricane Center and the Central Pacific Hurricane Center. Archived radar from NOAA’s Level II archive.

• Tropical cyclone report, National Hurricane Center
• Every advisory and discussion NHC issued while it was live
• Best track as KMZ, National Hurricane Center
• Best track as a shapefile, National Hurricane Center
• Wikipedia article: Tropical Storm Alberto