Will Ana again bring an early tropical storm season?
The season’s first named storm brewing in the Caribbean.
It now appears likely that first named tropical storm of the Atlantic season will form off the Florida coast in the next two days.
The National Hurricane Center sees a 60 percent chance that the showers and thunderstorms over portions of Florida and the Bahamas will congeal into Ana by 8 a.m. Friday.
It would mean potentially heavy rains and rough surf along the Southeast coast, but no threat to what is shaping up to be a summery Mothers' Day weekend around here.
This would be early for a named storm – one with winds of at least 39 m.p.h. – given that the season doesn't start officially until June 1, but by no means any kind of record.
In fact, a tropical storm gained the name Ana on April 21, 2003. It was no great shakes, with peak winds at 50 m.p.h., and, obviously, the name was not retired.
Observations before the satellite era weren't nearly as comprehensive as today's, but a tropical storm that formed on Groundhog Day, Feb. 2, 1952, is believed to have been the earliest on record.
At least one named storm has formed in March, in 1908, and several have earned names in April.