Tropical Storm Alberto pelted Florida's Gulf Coast with rain before it made landfall Tuesday, but early reports indicated its winds, storm surge and other effects were not as serious as initially feared. The storm's center came ashore around 12:30 p.m. near Adams Beach, about 50 miles southeast of Tallahassee, the National Hurricane Center said. Alberto's top sustained winds were 40 mph, down from 65 mph earlier in the day. The minimum wind speed for a hurricane is 74 mph.
About 21,000 homes and businesses were without power statewide and some streets flooded in coastal towns. Water levels approached several houses and businesses near Crystal River to the south. Residents gathered in calf-deep water on streets and parking lots and dropped sandbags in preparation for the afternoon high tide.
