First Tropical Storm of the Year Heading Up Atlantic

Alberto ain't much to look at, and he's the first one at the party.

The earliest named tropical storm since Ana formed on April 20, 2003, was named on Saturday afternoon.

With maximum sustained winds of 40 knots (46 mph), Tropical Storm Alberto was spinning off the coast of Georgia in Sunday evening. The storm's projected track has it passing near Cape Hatteras by Tuesday afternoon before moving rapidly out to sea, according to the National Hurricane Center.

Though hurricane season officially runs from June 1 through Nov. 30, tropical systems can form outside that window of time, according to Accuweather meteorologist Justin Roberti.

There are no coastal watches or warnings in effect as conditions are not favorable for the storm to intensify, the National Hurricane Center said in a Sunday evening update.

Ocean City should see little effect from 2012's first tropical system. An unrelated low-pressure system generated a strong and choppy northeast swell on Sunday that should continue through early Monday. With light local winds in the forecast for Tuesday and Wednesday, surfers could take advantage of the lingering swell from the two systems.

No wind or rain from Alberto is expected to affect Ocean City.