Tropical Storm Alberto Expected To Stay Offshore

MIAMI (AP) -- Alberto is holding on to tropical storm strength as it spins east off the coast of Florida.

Alberto's maximum sustained winds are near 40 mph (65 kph) Monday evening with some weakening expected during the next two days.

The storm is centered about 225 miles (362 kilometers) east of Jacksonville, Fla. Alberto is moving east near 8 mph (13 kph) but is expected to turn northeastward sometime in the next two days before fizzling out.

Alberto is expected to stay offshore of the Carolinas and Georgia coast.

Alberto will pass south of Ocean City Tuesday. Even though it will stay over the water, we are going to get rounds of rain and thunderstorms ahead of the storm. The surf will kick up a bit, increasing wave heights slightly.

Meanwhile in the Pacific, a tropical depression far south of Mexico's coast is expected to strengthen to a tropical storm. The depression's maximum sustained winds are near 35 mph (55 kph). It's centered about 510 miles (821 kilometers) south of Acapulco, Mexico.

(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)