Tropical storm Ana on Saturday barreled toward the US southeastern coastline, bringing the risk of flooding, high winds and life-threatening tides in the region, forecasters warned.
Ana, which formed before the official June 1 start of the hurricane season, was expected to make landfall early yesterday.
The National Hurricane Center (NHC) issued a tropical storm warning for the area from South Santee River, South Carolina, to Cape Lookout, North Carolina — a 446km stretch of Atlantic coastline.
WARNING
The forecasters also said communities in Virginia and eastern North Carolina should monitor Ana.
By late Saturday, Ana was 80km southeast of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, and was moving north-northwest toward the coast at a speed of 8kph.
The storm could wreak havoc on coastal communities, with up to 10cm of rain and winds of up to 100kph expected.
“The combination of storm surge and the tide will cause normally dry areas near the coast to be flooded by rising waters,” the Miami-based forecaster said.
STORM SURGE
“The water could reach one to two feet [0.3m to 0.6m] above ground at times of high tide in coastal areas from Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, southward through South Carolina,” it said.
The NHC also warned of menacing rip tides off the coast.
“Swells generated by Ana are affecting portions of the southeastern US coast. These swells will likely cause life-threatening surf and rip currents,” it said.
The storm’s conditions are likely to weaken once it moves inland, the NHC said.
The harsh conditions are expected to continue through today.
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