A satellite image shows Alberto as it nears landfall on the Florida Panhandle and the Gulf Coast on Monday.

A satellite image shows Alberto as it nears landfall on the Florida Panhandle and the Gulf Coast on Monday.

Two journalists on duty were killed Monday as Subtropical Storm Alberto made its way north after making landfall in Florida’s panhandle. 

Photojournalist Aaron Smeltzer and Anchor Mike McCormick of WYFF News 4 in South Carolina were killed when a tree fell on their SUV in North Carolina.

The accident happened on Highway 176 in Polk County while they were covering the impact of heavy rain in that area, according to WYFF News 4.

Though the storm has weakened, forecasters say it still is capable of potentially life-threatening flash floods as the system spreads over much of Alabama and large areas of Georgia.

Alberto is expected to continue north over Alabama bringing abundant moisture and rainfall, according to the National Weather Service. The greatest rainfall of up to an additional 1 to 3 inches is most likely in north and west Georgia. Some of these amounts could fall in a short period of time and a flash flood watch remains in effect in parts of the state through Wednesday morning.

Creek and river levels are already above average and it will not take much additional rainfall to cause levels to rise above bankfull, according to the NWS.

A Flash Flood Watch is issued when conditions are favorable for flash flooding. It does not mean that flash flooding will occur, but it is possible.

Tags: Alberto  severe weather  Atlanta  Georgia