Carolinas under watch as Subtropical Storm Ana nears

The first named storm of the 2015 hurricane season is nearing the Carolina coastline and is expected to bear down over the weekend.

The National Hurricane Center said Friday morning that Subtropical Storm Ana has formed in the Atlantic and is about 150 miles south of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.

The Weather Channel noted that an area spanning from Edisto Beach in South Carolina, to Cape Lookout in North Carolina are under a tropical storm watch.

"With Northeast high pressure blocking the system, it may linger in the eastern Carolinas, prolonging impacts through the weekend," Weather Channel forecaster Michael Palmer said.

Subtropical Storm Ana is expected to bring rip currents and large waves to the coastline by Saturday. Winds from the storm could reach 45 mph and coastal flooding is possible. Beaches in Georgia and Florida could also be impacted with rip currents and high surf.

Ana marks an early start to the Atlantic hurricane season which typically begins in June and ends in November.

Image shared via Twitter by the National Hurricane Center

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