NORTH MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (AP) — Tropical Storm Ana weakened slightly as it lumbered just off the coast of South Carolina, sending pounding surf crashing against Atlantic beaches as it prepared to bluster inland, forecasters said.
The U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami said Ana was centered at 5 a.m. EDT about 5 miles (10 kilometers) south of North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, and packed top sustained winds of 45 mph (75 kph).
Ana, a surprisingly early tropical storm that emerged ahead of the official June 1 start of the Atlantic hurricane season, was moving to the north-northwest at a plodding pace of about 5 mph (7 kph).
Hurricane specialist Dave Roberts said the storm would be blowing ashore Sunday morning in an area between Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, and Wilmington, North Carolina.
The storm was kicking up 11- to 12-foot seas — as recorded by offshore buoys — and the dangerous surf was a worrisome aspect of the storm, he said. He advised people to stay away from the water.
"It's about rough surf. People need to stay off the beach for sure," Roberts told The Associated Press by phone from the hurricane center.
Although the Atlantic season doesn't formally start until June 1, early surprise storms are not all that unusual every few years or so, the center said. There were two May tropical storms in 2012, for instance.
A tropical storm warning, meanwhile, remained in effect from the South Santee River in South Carolina to Cape Lookout, North Carolina. Forecasters said the storm, once it hit cooler waters, would weaken further and head inland while breaking up.
Dave Rey, a homeowner in Little River, South Carolina, said he didn't expect the surprise tropical storm to buffet his plans to cook dinner for his mother on Mother's Day. He lives not far from Myrtle Beach but said blustery winds early Sunday weren't a problem.
"There isn't much to do for this one, just a little wind and rain and a couple of downed branches, not a whole lot going on ... maybe 20 mph winds" so far in Little River, he told the AP by phone from a Waffle House where he was hanging out.
Nonetheless, he said he hoped such an early tropical storm didn't signal a busy Atlantic tropical season ahead.
"I'm a little concerned because it's starting so early; it's four or five months early. I hope it doesn't mean we are going to have a very active storm season."
Meanwhile, emergency officials kept a watchful eye on the storm.
The North Myrtle Beach Department of Public Safety announced Saturday that no swimming in the ocean was allowed because of the weather. In New Hanover County, North Carolina, authorities cautioned people who were thinking about a weekend beach outing.
"Beachgoers are encouraged to use extreme caution this weekend," said Warren Lee, Director of New Hanover County Emergency Management. "With the elevated risk of rip currents, the best advice is to stay out of the water when the risk for rip currents is the highest and comply with any advisories given by lifeguards."
Ana marked the earliest subtropical or tropical storm to form in the Atlantic since another storm named Ana emerged in 2003, the hurricane center said earlier on Twitter. The Atlantic season officially runs from June 1 to Nov. 30, a period experts consider the most likely for tropical activity in the ocean basin.
Hurricane specialists said Ana emerged from a subtropical system, meaning it initially had characteristics of both a tropical storm — which draws energy from warm ocean waters — and a traditional storm system driven by temperature changes typical of cooler weather before the season start.
In addition to rough surf and blustery winds, forecasters said, some 1 to 3 inches of rain were expected over a wide area with more in some isolated spots.
AP reporter Jonathan Drew contributed from Raleigh.
Our 2024 Coverage Needs You
It's Another Trump-Biden Showdown — And We Need Your Help
The Future Of Democracy Is At Stake
Our 2024 Coverage Needs You
Your Loyalty Means The World To Us
As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.
Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our news free for all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
The 2024 election is heating up, and women's rights, health care, voting rights, and the very future of democracy are all at stake. Donald Trump will face Joe Biden in the most consequential vote of our time. And HuffPost will be there, covering every twist and turn. America's future hangs in the balance. Would you consider contributing to support our journalism and keep it free for all during this critical season?
HuffPost believes news should be accessible to everyone, regardless of their ability to pay for it. We rely on readers like you to help fund our work. Any contribution you can make — even as little as $2 — goes directly toward supporting the impactful journalism that we will continue to produce this year. Thank you for being part of our story.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
It's official: Donald Trump will face Joe Biden this fall in the presidential election. As we face the most consequential presidential election of our time, HuffPost is committed to bringing you up-to-date, accurate news about the 2024 race. While other outlets have retreated behind paywalls, you can trust our news will stay free.
But we can't do it without your help. Reader funding is one of the key ways we support our newsroom. Would you consider making a donation to help fund our news during this critical time? Your contributions are vital to supporting a free press.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our journalism free and accessible to all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.
Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our news free for all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
Dear HuffPost Reader
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. Would you consider becoming a regular HuffPost contributor?
Dear HuffPost Reader
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. If circumstances have changed since you last contributed, we hope you'll consider contributing to HuffPost once more.
Support HuffPostAlready contributed? Log in to hide these messages.