2007 Hurricane and Tropical Storm Season is here!

[JoeyandDavid]

The first named storm of the year formed Wednesday off the southeastern U.S. coast, more than three weeks before the official start of the Atlantic hurricane season, forecasters said.

Subtropical Storm Andrea had top sustained winds around 45 mph Wednesday morning and didn't appear to be much of a threat, the National Hurricane Center in Miami said. Still, a tropical storm watch was issued for parts of Georgia and Florida, meaning tropical storm conditions are possible within 36 hours.

"We're not looking at this system strengthening significantly," said Richard Pasch, a senior hurricane specialist at the center. "We're not viewing this as a major threat."

At 11 a.m. EDT, Andrea was centered about 140 miles southeast of Savannah, Ga., and about 150 miles northeast of Daytona Beach. The storm was moving west at about 3 mph.

Forecasters said no significant rain from the storm was expected to fall over land through at least Thursday morning. But wind-driven waves have been causing beach erosion in South Carolina, Georgia and Florida and the ocean has lapped at beachfront homes and condominiums.

Subtropical systems are hybrid weather formations that are usually weaker than hurricanes and tropical storms. They are kind of a half-breed, sharing characteristics of tropical systems, which get their power from warm ocean water at their centers, and more typical bad weather that forms when warm and cold fronts collide, Pasch said.

Forecasters said Andrea has the warm center characteristic of tropical storms but its core is not particularly well defined. In addition, its winds are farther out from the center than they would be in a tropical storm.

Typically about one subtropical storm forms each year, but they often turn into tropical storms. That doesn't appear to be the case with Andrea, senior hurricane specialist Jack Beven said. It only has a small area of warmer water to draw energy from and is also facing dry winds.

He said it wasn't unusual for the storm to form in May, outside the hurricane season that starts June 1 and end Nov. 30.

"What we call the hurricane season is a totally man made creation. Nature doesn't always pay attention to that," Beven said.

Eighteen tropical storms and four hurricanes have been recorded in that month since 1851, and none of the hurricanes made landfall in the U.S. The earliest hurricane to strike the U.S. was Alma in northwest Florida on June 9, 1966.

Private and university forecasters have predicted that the 2007 season will be especially active, producing up to 17 tropical storms and hurricanes and a "well above average" possibility of at least one striking the U.S. The federal government plans to release its predictions May 22.

The Atlantic basin has been in a busy period for hurricanes since 1995. Some federal forecasters believe this is part of a natural cycle. But the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, a U.N.-sponsored group, says global warming caused by humans has led to an increase in stronger hurricanes.

[sailingrose]

I can't believe it's here already! Yikes, here we go again. That storm gave us one rough ride home on Sunday night, hope it blows out soon.

[rogue]

Careful down there, Florida 'Crazies!

[GottaCruz]

We're expecting delivery in the next few days of the new tile for our roof. We're hoping that the job will be complete before any big storns. They assured us that the tile is only for "looks" and that the two layers of paper up there now is the real protection. I hope they're right.

[KeithnRita]

We will be on our way down there Friday. In fact, we will spend Friday night in Lake City, FL. We have been hearing about the Georgia Wildfires that may spread on into Florida and as far south as Orlando. Maybe a mild tropical storm will get rid of the fires!

[hazelson]

You guys down that way take care and stay safe. I was watching in on the news - way to early for one like this.

[frostyboy64]

here we go it is going to be bad here in florida this year

[sailingrose]

Boy frostyboy do I hope your wrong.

[CanadianCruiser]

2007 Named Storm Systems

Andrea Tropical storm off Florida / Georgia coast; May 9-10. Top winds: 45 mph. Landfall: none. Winds fanned the flames of large wildfires in the two states, helping to spread the fires.

Remaining Names

Barry

Chantal

Dean

Erin

Felix

Gabrielle

Humberto

Ingrid

Jerry

Karen

Lorenzo

Melissa

Noel

Olga

Pablo

Rebekah

Sebastien

Tanya

Van

Wendy

[JoeyandDavid]

I would have never considered flame fanning winds to be included as part of the devastation from a hurricane or tropical storm but in some way i guess it should be.... interesting