Sub-Tropical Storm Andrea Arrives Three Weeks Early

The first named storm of the 2007 storm season has arrived early. Georgia beaches are experiencing wind gusts of 26 mph three weeks before the traditional start of the Atlantic's hurricane season.

The National Hurricane Center is predicting the storm will not pose a huge threat to the area. While forecasters acknowledge Andres possesses the typical warm center, the storm's eye is not a well defined core. Since winds are located farther out in this storm, senior hurricane specialist, Richard Pasch reports, "We're not looking at this storm strengthening significantly. We're not viewing this as a major threat." Minor beach erosions as well as rip currents can be expected.

Normally weaker than hurricanes and tropical storms, subtropical systems are hybrid weather formations. The weaker systems are a combination of tropical systems, and typical bad weather created by warm and cold fronts merging, Pasch stated.

With sustained winds reaching 45 mph, Miami's hurricane center issued a tropical storm watch for portions of Georgia and Florida. A tropical storm warning means conditions are favorable for a tropical storm. At 5 pm on Wednesday, Andrea was moving west at about 5 mph, approximately 105 miles southeast of Savannah, Georgia and about 125 miles northeast of Daytona Beach in Florida.

Waves are causing erosion on the coasts of South Carolina, Georgia and Florida. As the waves crash against stairs leading to beach access pathways, officials are reminding beach goers to use caution and common sense. Some South Carolina areas have gas and power disconnected as a precaution. South Carolina's Coast Guard officials announce they have rescued one of two men kayaking who had been reported missing. Last seen leaving Seabrook Island, S.C. Jeremy Scott was rescued five miles east of Fripp Island. Rescue personnel are continuing the search for still missing companion, Stephen Lee.

Forecasters are predicting another active hurricane season for the area. The federal government has not yet published its prediction on the 2007 season. Current plans are to release information on May 22, which is a couple of weeks before hurricane seasons official June 1 start date.

Since 1995, the Atlantic Ocean has stayed active, producing some of the strongest hurricane's in US history. Speculations remain debated about the cause of hurricane activity's increase. Some insist the active seasons are part of nature's cycle while others suggest global warming plays a bigger factor in the increase.