Subtropical storm, Ana is gaining some momentum. What was first a subtropical storm is quickly becoming an actual, full tropical storm. The National Hurricane Center gave the news of Ana’s transformation this Saturday morning. The shower and thunderstorm activity within Ana became more concentrated with the center of circulation, which is typical of tropical storms.
First Tropical Storm of the Season
The previous subtropical storm, Ana is the first storm named in 2015 for the hurricane season. This storm is located within the areas of South Santee River, South Carolina to Cape Lookout, North Carolina. Both locations were warned of the incoming tropical storm. There is also a warning in the town of Edisto Beach, South Carolina.
Subtropical storm Ana, the now tropical storm, is centered near Wilmington, North Carolina. Ana is making her way toward the northwest slowly, but surely. Rain and gusts of strong wind are in store for those cities close to Ana, such as those in the eastern Carolinas. Ana is most likely making her way toward the coastal Carolina areas this weekend. It is most likely that this is where direct impacts will take place.
Coastal flooding, gusts of winds, heavy rain and beach erosion are all part of Ana’s plan. Forecasters say that the very center of Ana should be somewhere in the Carolinas by Sunday. Florida and Georgia coasts are also likely to get a visit from the effects of Ana.
Beach Goers Warned Away
The biggest threat that subtropical storm Ana is dishing out is dangerous surfs, as well as deadly rip tides. Coastal flooding is also a concern, but Senior Hurricane Specialist, Stacy Stewart, believes that it will be minor. Hurricane season does not normally start until June 1, but Ana being this early is not that unusual. Early storms also occurred back in 2012, when two storms also came in May.
Authorities have issued storm warnings for subtropical storm Ana. This means that storm conditions are to be expected somewhere in the warning areas. Storm conditions of wind and heavy rain will take place sometime between twelve and twenty-four hours of the warning.
Although Ana is early to the party, damage is expected to be minimal. Gusts of wind should only reach about forty-five miles per hour while on land. There will be waves of six to nine feet and swimmers have already been warned to stay out of the water. Once Ana crosses inland within the week, it is most likely that she will dissipate and then be gone.
On May 9, around two in the afternoon, when it was just subtropical storm Ana; she was tracked about fifteen miles southeast of Myrtle Beach in South Carolina. The maximum miles per hour for winds will only be about seventy miles, although wind gusts may reach up to 125 miles.
