Tuesday, August 11, 2009

Tropical Storm Ana (2009)

Storm Active: August 11-17

On August 8, a strong tropical wave emerged off Africa. It showed a lot of organization, and therefore was classified a tropical depression on August 11. Tropical Depression Two had 30 mph winds and an internal pressure of 1006 millibars on its first advisory, but it showed signs of strengthening. It also had minor effects on the southern Cape Verde Islands. Tropical Depression Two became more organized on August 12, when convection became more defined and covered the center of circulation. However, the system was still a tropical depression with 35 mph winds and a pressure of 1006 millibars. That night, however, the depression lost its cloud cover due to wind sheer, and weakened back to 30 mph winds on August 13. Despite some regeneration of the convection later that day, it was downgraded to a remnant low. However, cloud cover came back to the system slowly and on August 15, it became Tropical Depression Two once again. Then, six hours later, it became the first named storm of the 2009 season with its peak intensity of 40 mph winds and a pressure 1005 millibars. The newly named Tropical Storm Ana continued westward and interacted with the easternmost islands of the Caribbean, causing little damage. Only rain and some tropical storm force winds resulted. As it plowed deeply into wind sheer, the system weakened and became Tropical Depression Ana south of Puerto Rico. It brought periods of showers and winds to the island, before becoming a remnant low on August 17. The low continued west-north-west over the next few days, and dissipated near Florida on August 19. Damage from Ana was minimal and no fatalities resulted from this system.



Tropical Depression Two before dissipating and regenerating into Tropical Storm Ana.



Track of Ana.

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