Tropical Storm Ana Strengthening – Heading for Florida

Tropical storm Ana, which was nothing more than a regular storm a few days ago, is now picking up steam in the Caribbean and is heading for Florida, with the edge of the storm expected to make landfall around noon Tuesday according to the weather map below.

According to a National Weather Service advisory issued at 11am AST Saturday, Tropical Storm Ana is moving at about 16kph in a west-northwest path and has sustained winds of about 40mph, or 65kph.

AT 1100 AM AST…1500 UTC…THE CENTER OF TROPICAL STORM ANA WAS LOCATED NEAR LATITUDE 14.3 NORTH…LONGITUDE 48.3 WEST OR ABOUT 920 MILES…1480 KM…EAST OF THE LEEWARD ISLANDS.

ANA IS MOVING TOWARD THE WEST NEAR 16 MPH…26 KM/HR. A TURN TOWARD THE WEST-NORTHWEST IS EXPECTED DURING THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS. THIS MOTION COULD BRING THE CENTER OF ANA NEAR THE LEEWARD ISLANDS ON MONDAY.

MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS ARE NEAR 40 MPH…65 KM/HR…WITH HIGHER GUSTS. SOME SLOW STRENGTHENING IS FORECAST DURING THE NEXT 48 HOURS.

TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 70 MILES…110 KM FROM THE CENTER.

ESTIMATED MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE IS 1005 MB…29.68 INCHES.

…SUMMARY OF 1100 AM AST INFORMATION…
LOCATION…14.3N 48.3W
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS…40 MPH
PRESENT MOVEMENT…WEST OR 270 DEGREES AT 16 MPH
MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE…1005 MB

You can keep an eye on tropical storm Ana by visiting the National Weather Service at this link.

Map courtesy: Florida Sun-Sentinel