The first named tropical storm of the 2015 season is headed for the southeastern United States and is not expected to affect Ocean City in any substantial way.
Tropical Storm Ana was named Thursday night as sustained winds reached 45 mph. The system is meandering off the Carolinas and is expected to make landfall there on Sunday.
Strong winds and heavy seas are expected to affect the coastline from northern Florida to southeastern Virginia on Friday and through the weekend.
Hurricane season does not officially begin until June 1, and the storm technically categorized as subtropical.
“By the time it reaches our region, it is expected to have weakened,” the local National Weather Service bureau reports. “However, it, along with a cold front approaching from the northwest, could bring showers and thunderstorms to our region Monday into Tuesday. Some of the thunderstorms on Tuesday could be strong. If you have any outdoor plans on Monday or Tuesday stay tuned to the latest forecast as we get closer.”
Surf forecasts do not anticipate any significant swell from the storm for local waveriders.
