Tropical Storm Ana (2003)

Infobox Hurricane
Name=Tropical Storm Ana
Type=Tropical storm
Year=2003
Basin=Atl
Image location=Tropical Storm Ana (2003).jpg


Formed=April 20, 2003
Dissipated=April 24, 2003
1-min winds=50
Pressure=994
Da

Inflated=
Fatalities=2 direct
Areas=Florida, Bermuda
Hurricane season=2003 Atlantic hurricane season

Tropical Storm Ana was the only tropical cyclone on record in the Atlantic basin during the month of April. The first tropical cyclone of the season, it developed as a subtropical cyclone from a non-tropical low on April 20 to the west of Bermuda. It tracked east-southeastward and organized, and on April 21 it transitioned into a tropical cyclone with peak winds of 60 mph (95 km/h). Tropical Storm Ana turned east-northeastward, steadily weakening due to wind shear and an approaching cold front, and on April 24 it became an extratropical cyclone. The storm brushed Bermuda with light rain, and the remnants produced precipitation in the Azores and the United Kingdom. Swells generated by the storm capsized a boat along the Florida coastline, causing two fatalities.

Meteorological history

A non-tropical low pressure area developed about 240 miles (390 km) south-southwest of Bermuda on April 18 through the interaction of an upper-level trough and a surface frontal trough.cite web|author=Jack Beven|year=2003|title=Tropical Storm Ana Tropical Cyclone Report|publisher=National Hurricane Center|accessdate=2007-12-14|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/2003ana.shtml?] The surface trough, which extended from the gale center to Hispaniola, brought a plume of moisture northward from the Caribbean Sea into the circulation, which caused heavy rainfall in Puerto Rico. [cite web|author=Mike Tichacek|year=2003|title=April 18 Tropical Weather Discussion|publisher=National Hurricane Center|accessdate=2007-12-14|url=ftp://ftp.met.fsu.edu/pub/weather/tropical/Atl-Dis/2003/Apr/2003041804.AXNT20] The non-tropical low tracked generally northward, with a ridge to its east and west, [cite web|author=Robbie Berg|year=2003|title=April 19 Tropical Weather Discussion|publisher=National Hurricane Center|accessdate=2007-12-14|url=ftp://ftp.met.fsu.edu/pub/weather/tropical/Atl-Dis/2003/Apr/2003041917.AXNT20] and on April 19 the system began producing sporadic convection near its center; early that day, satellite imagery indicated the presence of a tight inner core of winds. After turning to the northwest, it looped southeastward and gradually became separated from the surface frontal system, due to the deepening of the upper-level trough over the system. [cite web|author=Robbie Berg|year=2003|title=April 20 Tropical Weather Discussion|publisher=National Hurricane Center|accessdate=2007-12-14|url=ftp://ftp.met.fsu.edu/pub/weather/tropical/Atl-Dis/2003/Apr/2003042017.AXNT20] Convection became better organized over the center, and it is estimated the system developed into Subtropical Storm Ana early on April 20 while located about 250 miles (400 km) west of Bermuda. Operationally, the subtropical cyclone was not classified by the National Hurricane Center until 21 hours later.cite web|author=Jack Beven|year=2003|title=Subtropical Storm Ana Discussion One|publisher=National Hurricane Center|accessdate=2007-12-14|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2003/dis/al012003.discus.001.shtml?]

The subtropical storm tracked east-southeastward and continued to organize, and by late on April 20 an upper-level warm core was present over the system. Based on its organization, Ana is estimated to have become a tropical storm by 0000 UTC on April 21. Upon becoming a tropical storm, Ana attained a peak intensity of 60 mph (95 km/h), which was based on estimates from the Hebert-Poteat technique and data from QuikSCAT. Shortly thereafter, it made its closest point of approach to Bermuda, when it passed about 130 miles (210 km) southwest of the island. Operationally, the cyclone was first classified by the National Hurricane Center around this time, when it was considered a subtropical cyclone. Strong upper-level wind shear removed much of the convection,cite web|author=Richard Pasch|year=2003|title=Subtropical Storm Ana Discussion Two|publisher=National Hurricane Center|accessdate=2007-12-15|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2003/dis/al012003.discus.002.shtml?] though a small area of thunderstorms persisted near the center.cite web|author=Miles Lawrence|year=2003|title=Subtropical Storm Ana Discussion Three|publisher=National Hurricane Center|accessdate=2007-12-15|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2003/dis/al012003.discus.003.shtml?] The storm became completely separated from the upper-level system,cite web|author=Miles Lawrence|year=2003|title=Subtropical Storm Ana Discussion Four|publisher=National Hurricane Center|accessdate=2007-12-15|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2003/dis/al012003.discus.004.shtml?] and the cyclone re-organized, developing an eye feature late on April 21. Embedded within the flow of a cyclone to its north, Ana continued eastward,cite web|author=Jack Beven|year=2003|title=Subtropical Storm Ana Discussion Five|publisher=National Hurricane Center|accessdate=2007-12-15|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2003/dis/al012003.discus.005.shtml?] and early on April 22 the wind shear again removed the convection from the center.cite web|author=Richard Pasch|year=2003|title=Subtropical Storm Ana Discussion Six|publisher=National Hurricane Center|accessdate=2007-12-15|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2003/dis/al012003.discus.006.shtml?] Convection waxed and waned throughout the day,cite web|author=Stacy Stewart|year=2003|title=Tropical Storm Ana Discussion Nine|publisher=National Hurricane Center|accessdate=2007-12-15|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2003/dis/al012003.discus.009.shtml?] and by April 23 the circulation had deteriorated in organization.cite web|author=Richard Pasch|year=2003|title=Tropical Storm Ana Discussion Ten|publisher=National Hurricane Center|accessdate=2007-12-15|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2003/dis/al012003.discus.010.shtml?] After turning to the northeast, the circulation center merged with an approaching cold front on April 24, and Tropical Storm Ana completed the transition into an extratropical cyclone. The extratropical storm accelerated east-northeastward before losing its identity within the frontal zone on April 27 southeast of the Azores.

Impact, records, and naming

Prior to the development of Ana, the government of Bermuda issued a gale warning for the island. [cite web|author=Jack Beven|year=2003|title=April 20 Special Tropical Disturbance Statement|publisher=National Hurricane Center|accessdate=2007-12-15|url=ftp://ftp.met.fsu.edu/pub/weather/tropical/Disturbance/2003/Apr/2003042022.WONT41] Upon its classification by the National Hurricane Center, a tropical storm warning was issued for Bermuda. [cite web|author=Jack Beven|year=2003|title=Subtropical Storm Ana Public Advisory One|publisher=National Hurricane Center|accessdate=2007-12-15|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2003/pub/al012003.public.001.shtml?] Meandering near the island for several days while developing, the storm dropped 2.63 inches (67 mm) of precipitation in a six-day period at the Bermuda International Airport. Winds on the island did not reach tropical storm force. [cite web|author=Bermuda Weather Service|year=2003|title=Bermuda Weather for April 2003|accessdate=2007-12-15|url=http://www.weather.bm/data/2003-04.html] Swells from the storm impacted the coast of Florida. The combination of the swells and an outgoing tide caused a boat to capsize in Jupiter Inlet on April 20; two of its occupants drowned, and the other two were rescued. [cite web|author=National Climatic Data Center|year=2003|title=Tropical Storm Ana Event Report|accessdate=2007-12-15|url=http://www4.ncdc.noaa.gov/cgi-win/wwcgi.dll?wwevent~ShowEvent~489312] As an extratropical storm, the remnants of Ana dropped 0.87 inches (22 mm) of precipitation in the city of Ponta Delgada in the Azores. Moisture from the remnants of Ana also produced beneficial rainfall in the United Kingdom. [cite web|author=Gary Padgett|year=2003|title=April 2003 Global Tropical Cyclone Summary|accessdate=2007-12-15|url=http://www.australiasevereweather.com/cyclones/2003/summ0304.htm] Two ships recorded tropical storm force winds in association with Ana; the Atlantic Forest recorded 51 mph (82 km/h) and a pressure of 998 mbar on April 22, and the Rosa Delmas reported winds of 47 mph (76 km/h) on April 23.

On April 20, Ana became the second subtropical cyclone on record in the Atlantic basin in the month of April, after a subtropical storm in 1992. After attaining tropical characteristics, it became the first tropical storm on record in the month of April.

The name Ana was not retired by the World Meteorological Organization and is on the tropical cyclone naming list for the 2009 season.

References

External links

* [http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/2003ana.shtml? Tropical Storm Ana Tropical Cyclone Report]