U.S. Storm Ana Weakens to Tropical Depression

Southeastern U.S. storm Ana weakened to a tropical depression Sunday after making landfall and slowing down over the coast, though forecasters warned of storm surges, rip currents and heavy rain.

Ana, which formed before the official June 1 start of the hurricane season, hit around the border of North and South Carolina early Sunday after barreling toward the coast overnight as a tropical storm.

The low-pressure system became "nearly stationary" after making landfall, but is expected to increase speed toward the northeast, the National Hurricane Center said.

The Miami-based NHC had issued a tropical storm warning over a 277-mile (445-kilometer) stretch of South and North Carolina's Atlantic coastline.

As the system dumped rain on the Carolinas of one to two feet (30-61 centimeters) of water above ground at high tide, two to four inches (5-10 centimeters) of rain and "life-threatening surf and rip currents."

Sustained winds have decreased to around 35 miles per hour after a peak of around 50 miles per hour on Saturday.

Despite Ana's early arrival, this year's hurricane season is shaping up to be one of the least active since the mid-20th century, as the El Nino phenomenon is generating weather conditions not conducive to hurricane formation.