The U.S. National Hurricane Center (NHC) in Miami is now issuing advisories because the hurricane season has started a month earlier as Subtropical Storm Ana brews near the southeast coast of the U.S.
On Thursday, May 7, the NHC divulged that Subtropical Storm Ana - the first storm of the Atlantic hurricane season - had formed over the Atlantic Ocean and the winds clocked at 45 miles per hour (mph).
"NHC is issuing advisories on newly formed Subtropical Storm Ana (pronounced AH-nah), centered over the Atlantic Ocean about 170 miles south-southeast of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Maximum sustained winds are 45 mph. Some slight strengthening is possible during the next day or so," noted the NHC.
The storm is reportedly moving north at a speed of 2 mph. The Subtropical Storm Ana has appeared nearly a month prior to the official beginning of the hurricane season. Its appearance is the earliest over the Atlantic since another subtropical storm with the same name appeared on April 20 in 2003.
Usually, the Atlantic hurricane season starts on June 1 and ends by Nov. 30. The eastern Pacific experiences the hurricane season from May 15 to Nov. 30.
Ana is anticipated to slowly make its way towards the South Carolina coast and will hit sometime on Saturday, May 9. Post this, the remnants of the subtropical storm will head north-east, moving in a general direction.
On Thursday, May 7, The South Carolina coast was besieged with heavy rainfall owing to the storm. Ana is expected to gain strength in the next two days and anticipated to clock 50 mph. The NHC estimates that the subtropical storm will remain close to or over the Gulf Stream's warm waters prior to weakening as it nears the coast.
The NHC issued a storm warning on Thursday for South Carolina, Cape Lookout, Edisto Beach, and North Carolina. This basically means that these coastal areas may experience storm conditions in the next 48 hours.
A 90% chance of subtropical cyclone formation within 48 hr for the low near the SE U.S. #AL90 https://t.co/QLilCUpxG5 pic.twitter.com/rwh1rDwN50
— Natl Hurricane Ctr (@NHC_Atlantic) May 7, 2015
The NHC has also issued advisory 1.
Tropical Storm #Ana advisory 1 issued. Subtropical storm #Ana forms off the southeast u.s. coast. https://t.co/VqHn0u1vgc — Natl Hurricane Ctr (@NHC_Atlantic) May 8, 2015
However, the hurricane season ahead may be milder. According to Colorado State University forecasts in April, this season, the Atlantic will experience "well below average" hurricane numbers owing to strong El Gino effect and cooler water of the Caribbean.
