Ana forms in the Atlantic, becoming the first named storm of 2021 Atlantic hurricane season

Subtropical Storm Ana formed early Saturday morning, becoming the first named storm of the 2021 Atlantic hurricane season. This now marks the seventh year in a row in which at least one named storm has formed prior to the start of Atlantic hurricane season which officially begins June 1.

This is not the first year that a subtropical storm has marked the beginning of Atlantic hurricane season. Mostly recently, 2019 and 2018 featured Subtropical Storms Andrea and Alberto, which were the first named storms of the season to form in their respective years.

A subtropical storm has similar characteristics of a tropical storm but is not considered fully tropical because it doesn't depend on warm water temperatures to fuel its development.

"The system is considered a subtropical cyclone rather than a tropical cyclone since it is still entangled with an upper-level low as evident in water vapor satellite images, but it does have some tropical characteristics as well," the hurricane center said.

Ana is also unique because the storm originated in an area of the Atlantic that typically does not see tropical cyclones form in the month of May. Typically, storms during this month form over the eastern Gulf of Mexico, in the western Caribbean Sea, or near the Southeast coast of the US.

Out of the past six years (2015-2020), there have been eight preseason named storms, four of which made landfall in the US, including Ana in 2015.

NOAA predicts another above-normal Atlantic hurricane season

Fortunately, Subtropical Storm Ana is not expected to strike the US, however the storm could bring some impacts to Bermuda over the next day or so.

Ana currently has sustained winds of 45 mph and is located about 200 miles to the northeast of Bermuda. A tropical storm watch is in effect for Bermuda and tropical storm conditions are possible today for the island.

The storm is forecast to remain in the vicinity of Bermuda today prior to turning to the northeast on Sunday. Little change in strength is forecast today, but a gradual weakening is expected tonight and Sunday. Ana is expected to dissipate in a couple of days.

Tropical disturbance in the Gulf of Mexico

The National Hurricane Center has also been monitoring an area of disturbed weather in the western Gulf of Mexico since Thursday.

Early Saturday morning, a well-defined low pressure area was approaching the Texas Coast near Corpus Christi. The hurricane center has lowered the chances of this area of thunderstorms developing into a tropical depression or storm as the low is expected to move inland over the next several hours.

"Regardless of development, the system could produce heavy rainfall over portions of southeastern Texas and southwestern Louisiana today," the hurricane center said on Saturday morning.

Rainfall totals will be heaviest in southeastern Texas and southwestern Louisiana, with widespread totals of 1 to 3 inches forecast through Sunday night. Some isolated areas will likely receive up to 6 inches over an area that has already received an abundance of rain this past week.

Several dozen river gauges across Texas and Louisiana are already in flood stage and it will not take much rain to exacerbate flood conditions across these regions.

Coastal flood advisories are also in effect for portions of Texas, Louisiana and Mississippi through Sunday morning. Water levels may rise 1 to 2 feet higher than normal high tide levels as this area of low pressure moves on shore.

"Tidal fluctuations may occur, however the total water rise will continue mainly due to the strong easterly winds," the National Weather Service office in New Orleans said.

Significant coastal flooding is possible in portions of eastern Louisiana and western Mississippi where a coastal flood warning has also been issued. This area could see inundation of 2 to 4 feet through Saturday evening.

In addition to coastal flooding, there is also a high risk for rip currents along the Gulf Coast from Texas to the Florida Panhandle on Saturday.

The-CNN-Wire

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