The storm makes landfall, has sustained winds topping 45 mph, down from 60 mph in late morning Monday

Wire Reports

The National Hurricane Center says Subtropical Storm Alberto has come ashore on the Florida Panhandle.

The Miami-based center said in a 5 p.m. EDT advisory that Alberto's core made landfall Monday at Laguna Beach, Florida, about 15 miles (20 kilometers) west-northwest of Panama City.

Forecasters say heavy rainfall and flash flooding are the biggest threats posed by the storm as it heads inland over the Florida Panhandle. With maximum sustained winds of 45 mph (72 kph), Alberto was moving north at 9 mph (14 kph).

A tropical storm warning is in effect for a stretch of coastline between Aucilla River in Florida's Big Bend and the Alabama-Florida border.

The storm was expected to weaken as it continues moving inland. But forecasters said it will dump heavy rain on parts of the Florida Panhandle, Alabama and Georgia, raising the risk of flash flooding.

Meanwhile, a flood watch for all of South Florida was canceled, the National Weather Service's Miami-South Florida forecast office said.

"While some heavy showers remain possible across the area today, the risk of flooding for South Florida has diminished,'' the weather service said.

The storm weakened slightly, with sustained winds topping 50 mph, down from 60 mph in late morning Monday.

While forecasters discontinued the storm warning west of the Florida-Alabama border, they were still concerned about storm surge and flash flooding in the Panhandle. A tropical storm warning remained in effect stretching from Florida's Suwannee River to the border of Alabama and Mississippi.

The mayor of Orange Beach, on Alabama's Gulf Coast, says Alberto is bringing rain and aggravation but isn't causing any serious problems in his community.

Mayor Tony Kennon said in a phone interview Monday afternoon that the grim forecast kept Orange Beach from having the record crowds that were anticipated. But he says a lot of people braved the weather and showed up anyway.

Kennon says red flags are flying along the beaches to caution people against going in the water and officials are patrolling to make sure people din't ignore the warnings. While he says some people are wading along the water's edge, others are taking refuge in bars and restaurants.

The storm is the first of this year's hurricane season, coming a few days before the season starts Friday.