Tropical Storm Ana 2015: Severe Weather To Reach Carolinas On Sunday

Update as of 6:25 a.m. EDT: The center of Tropical Storm Ana made landfall early Sunday morning, according to the National Hurricane Center's Twitter feed.

According a public advisory released by the center at 5 a.m. EDT, the center was just off the coast near Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, and had weakened further.

Original story:

This year’s first severe tropical storm in is brewing on the East Coast, and Tropical Storm Ana is expected to head to the shores of North Carolina or South Carolina by early Sunday. Ana's center churned about 110 miles southeast of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, on Saturday morning, and the National Weather Service reported maximum sustained winds of 60 miles per hour.

Ana is expected to hit land near the states’ border by Sunday morning, the National Weather Service said.

The tropical storm may weaken as it reaches cooler waters near the coast, but it will most likely bring strong gusts of wind, rain and storm surges. Ana could bring one to three inches or rain, and in some areas up to five inches, throughout the eastern Carolinas through Monday.

Winds of up to 39 miles per hour may accompany Ana. It’s predicted that the winds may blow through the region from the South Santee River in South Carolina to Cape Lookout in North Carolina, a coastline area where a tropical storm warning is already in effect.

The Miami-based National Hurricane Center said Tropical Storm Ana should be taken seriously. It warned beachgoers, swimmers and sailors that dangerous rip currents could roll through the area.

During high tide, up to one or two feet of water could be sent into coastal areas by local storm surges. Heavy rain could also cause dangerous flooding in low-lying locations, while strong winds could also break tree limbs and knock out power. Sheds, porches and awnings may also sustain minor damage.