Tropical Storm Off Florida Coast

Tropical Storm Alberto is churning off Florida's east coast today, an early reminder that the official hurricane season is less than a month away.

Alberto was 175 miles east of Jacksonville at 11 a.m. Monday and is not expected to affect the Tampa Bay area, according to the National Hurricane Center.

A five-day forecast cone shows the storm heading northeast, up the Atlantic coast.

The hurricane season runs from June 1- Nov. 30, with predictions for a below-average season for storm activity, according to the Huffington Post. Yet all it takes is one hurricane to create havoc and cause destruction.

Gulfport is among several Tampa Bay communities planning programs to educate residents and help them to prepare for stormy weather.

Daniel Noah, Warning Coordination Meteorologist from the National Weather Service (NWS), will lead a hurricane seminar Thursday, May 24, at 7 p.m., at the Catherine Hickman Theater, 5501 27th Avenue S., Gulfport.

The seminar will show people how to protect themselves and also look at recent examples of tropical cyclones, including a storm surge, damaging wind, fresh water flooding, and tornadoes.  

The Senior Center Foundation snack bar, adjacent to the Theater, will open at 5 p.m. so visitors can buy pizza before the seminar and have a quick dinner. Vendors open at 6 p.m. and the seminar starts at 7 p.m.

Admission to this event is free. For more information, please contact 727-893-1118.

Be sure to check in at the Gufport Patch to learn valuable information and tips, as we publish our 2012 Hurricane Guide over the next few days. You may also want to download our iPhone or Android app to keep up with local news  on the go.