Tropical Depression Ana getting battered by Caribbean Islands

After struggling to stay alive against dry air and wind shear in the Atlantic, the remnants of Ana are now crossing Puerto Rico and will soon make landfall in the Dominican Republic. It is my expectation that the interaction with land coupled with the poor organization remaining in this storm will tear it up futher.

Tropical storm warnings remain in place for the islands in the area.

Public Advisory (courtesy of Weather Undeground)

Statement as of 2:00 PM AST on August 17, 2009
...Poorly organized Ana moving south of Puerto Rico...

a tropical storm watch remains in effect for Puerto Rico...the U.S.
Virgin Islands...the British Virgin Islands...and the Dominican
Republic from Punta Palenque to the northern Haiti/Dominican
Republic border. A tropical storm watch means that tropical
storm conditions are possible within the watch area...in this case
within24 hours.

For storm information specific to your area in the United
States...including possible inland watches and warnings...please
monitor products issued by your local National Weather Service
forecast office. For storm information specific to your area outside of the United States...please monitor products issued by your National meteorological service.

At 200 PM AST...1800 UTC...the center of Tropical Depression Ana was estimated near latitude 17.6 north...longitude 67.3 west or about 105 miles...165 km...southwest of San Juan Puerto Rico and about 165 miles...265 km...east-southeast of Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic.

Ana is moving toward the west-northwest near 28 mph...45 km/hr. A continued track in this general direction...with a reduction in forward speed...is expected over the next day or two.

Maximum sustained winds are near 35 mph...55 km/hr...with higher gusts. Little change in strength is forecast during the next 24 hours. However...Ana could degenerate into a tropical wave later today.

An Air Force Reserve unit reconnaissance aircraft will be in the area shortly.

Estimated minimum central pressure is 1008 mb...29.77 inches.

Ana is expected to produce rainfall amounts of 2 to 4 inches over Puerto Rico...the U.S. And British Virgin Islands...and the Dominican Republic...with isolated maximum amounts of 6 inches over mountainous terrain.

...Summary of 200 PM AST information...
location...17.6n 67.3w
maximum sustained winds...35 mph
present movement...west-northwest or 285 degrees at 28 mph
minimum central pressure...1008 mb

the next advisory will be issued by the National Hurricane Center at
500 PM AST.

$$Forecaster Franklin/cangialosi

Ana is maintaining 35 MPH winds right now and the Caribbean is warm so there is no telling what will happen once/if she emerges over open water again.