Tropical storm Ana forms over Atlantic, moves west

[Scurrilous]

Source: Reuters

<snip>

"Tropical Storm Ana, the first named storm of the 2009 Atlantic hurricane season, formed on Saturday and was moving west toward the Leeward Islands, the National Hurricane Center said.

With maximum sustained winds near 40 miles per hour, Ana was expected to strengthen slowly and turn toward the west-northwest, which could bring its center near the Leeward Islands on Monday.

It could threaten Puerto Rico by Tuesday and subsequently head toward the Bahamas and Florida. But the NHC said its initial projections did not show it developing into a full-blown hurricane in the next 120 hours, although this possibility could not be ruled out.

Tropical storms become hurricanes when their top sustained winds reach 74 mph."

Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/domesticNews/idUSTRE57E1EO20090815

---

New tropical depression forms in Atlantic

"A new tropical depression has formed over the Atlantic behind Tropical Storm Ana and both are expected to slowly strengthen over the next couple of days.

The National Hurricane Center said Saturday that the third depression of the Atlantic season had maximum sustained winds of 35 mph and could soon become a tropical storm with winds of at least 39 mph.

Tropical Storm Ana, the first named storm of the Atlantic season, had winds of near 40 mph at 11 a.m. EDT. The Hurricane Center says residents in the Leeward Islands, Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico should monitor the Ana's progress.

Meanwhile, Hurricane Guillermo is still swirling in the open Pacific as a Category 3 storm with winds were near 115 mph. Guillermo is expected to weaken as it heads over cooler waters."

http://www.miamiherald.com/news/florida/AP/story/1186688.html

[mnhtnbb]

1. The tropical depression behind Ana was the subject of some

speculative concern this a.m. on the Weather Channel. It's looking like it could be more powerful.

[NightWatcher]

2. forget Ana, look at Bill

http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/graphics_at3.shtml?5-daynl#contents

[Tangerine LaBamba]

3. Here it comes -

my buddy who lives in the mid-Keys has been getting pounded with rain all day.

We're just entering the dangerous storm season. Oh, man, let us pray and head north......................

[Edweird]

4. I agree. Bill is looking pretty healthy.

http://www.ssd.noaa.gov/goes/flt/t2/loop-avn.html

[liberal N proud]

5. This depression was ruled dead 48 hrs ago

[Individualist]

6. and came to life again today

From the National Hurricane Center:

AT 1100 PM AST...0300 UTC...THE CENTER OF TROPICAL STORM ANA WAS
LOCATED NEAR LATITUDE 14.4 NORTH...LONGITUDE 51.5 WEST OR ABOUT 710
MILES...1140 KM...EAST-SOUTHEAST OF THE LEEWARD ISLANDS.

[Akoto]

7. Whee. Here we go, fellow Floridians. Stay prepared! n/t

[woodsprite]

9. Ack! My in-laws just moved down there.

They're looking forward to 'riding one out'. They're in Rotunda West, near Punta Gorda, so I'm hoping Atlantic storms won't affect them quite as much.

[Akoto]

11. I must admit ...

Having been born here, I have been through quite a few, and I always find the experience to be exhilarating. However, the aftermath is a pain! If you're lucky enough to still have a standing residence (I wasn't on one occasion), it can potentially be weeks before you get your utilities back. We've had to live by candlelight and the grill more than once.

Tell your in-laws to keep supplies of canned food and water, batteries, those sorts of basics. If they can get storm shutters, or boards pre-cut to fit their windows, that'll also make their lives much easier!

On the bright side for them, it doesn't look like these storms are going to hook up on the west coast of the state, but it's still so far out. I'm on the east coast, so I've got a close eye on them.

[JCMach1]

8. Named after my daughter... the last storm that had close to one of my girl's names was:

KATRINA

Not a good omen...

[Psephos]

10. Two and a half months after the official Atlantic season began before we got the first named storm

Not gonna be a bumper year for hurricanes, I'd say.

[shawmut]

12. There's another one forming right now in the Gulf Of Mexico

this from the hurricane center:


SATELLITE AND RADAR DATA INDICATE THAT A SMALL AREA OF LOW PRESSURE
IN THE EASTERN GULF OF MEXICO...CENTERED ABOUT 80 MILES SOUTHWEST
OF TAMPA...IS BECOMING BETTER ORGANIZED AND MAY BE DEVELOPING A
CLOSED SURFACE CIRCULATION. ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS ARE FAVORABLE
FOR ADDITIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND THERE IS A HIGH CHANCE...GREATER
THAN 50 PERCENT...OF THIS SYSTEM BECOMING A TROPICAL CYCLONE
SOMETIME TODAY. THIS SYSTEM IS EXPECTED TO MOVE NORTHWESTWARD OR
NORTH-NORTHWESTWARD AT ABOUT 15 MPH TODAY. INTERESTS ALONG THE GULF
COAST OF FLORIDA SHOULD CLOSELY MONITOR THE PROGRESS OF THIS
SYSTEM.

[Baclava]

13. It's coming fast - should hit land by tomorrow

Don't blow up - the gulf is scorching hot

[Scurrilous]

14. Tropical Storm Claudette threatens Gulf Coast

<snip>

"Tropical Storm Claudette, the third of the Atlantic hurricane season, formed on Sunday in the Gulf of Mexico east of the heaviest concentration of U.S. energy platforms, as two other storms, Ana and Bill, raced across the Atlantic.

The six-month season got off to a slow start with no storms in the first 2-1/2 months but exploded this weekend as three tropical storms formed in just over a day.

The new system was expected to move ashore in the Florida panhandle, although at least one computer model showed it tracking farther west and hitting land near Mobile, Alabama. The greatest number of offshore oil and gas rigs span the coast from the mouth of Mobile Bay to Texas.

Claudette had sustained winds of 40 miles per hour (63 kilometers per hour) and was located about 200 miles southeast of Pensacola, Florida, at 11 a.m. EDT (1500 GMT), the U.S. National Hurricane Center said.

A tropical storm warning was in effect from the Alabama- Florida border eastward to the Suwannee River in Florida."

http://ca.reuters.com/article/topNews/idCATRE57F14V20090816

[jus_the_facts]

15. The water's of the Gulf of Mexico are hotter than they were in '05....

....now another wave has developed in the Gulf...so there are 4 areas to keep an eye on. :(



http://www.wunderground.com/tropical/

http://www.wunderground.com/blog/JeffMasters/comment.html?entrynum=1281

[Haole Girl]

16. Here we go

I knew it had been too quiet in the Atlantic.

[Scurrilous]

17. Ana Weakens to a Tropical Depression

<snip>

"At 5:00 pm edt the center of Tropical Depression Ana was located near latitude 15.1 north…longitude 58.8 west or about 170 miles…270 km…east of Dominica.

The depression is moving toward the west near 23 mph…37 km/hr. A turn toward the west-northwest is expected tonight and tomorrow. On this track the depression will cross the northern Leeward Islands tonight and enter the northeastern Caribbean Sea on Monday.

Maximum sustained winds are near 35 mph…55 km/hr…with higher gusts. Little change in strength is forecast during the next 24 hours. Data from an air force reserve hurricane hunter aircraft shows that the circulation of Ana has become less organized today. If this trend continues…Ana could degenerate into a tropical wave tonight."

http://www2.wsav.com/sav/weather/storm_center/article/ana_weakens_to_a_tropical_depression/37199/

[Scurrilous]

18. Tropical Storm Bill may become a hurricane tonight

<snip>

"Tropical Storm Bill is likely to become a hurricane tonight or on Monday.

At 4 p.m. the center of Tropical Storm Bill was located about 1,440 miles east of the Lesser Antilles.

Bill is moving toward the west-northwest near 16 mph and this motion is expected to continue for the next couple of days. Maximum sustained winds are near 65 mph with higher gusts. Bill is expected to become a hurricane later tonight or tomorrow."

http://www.nola.com/news/index.ssf/2009/08/tropical_storm_bill_may_become.html