While almost everybody’s attention has been focused on Tropical Storms Ana and Bill, still well out in the Atlantic, a new tropical disturbance has formed much closer to home …

On Sunday evening, the National Hurricane Center began monitoring an area of low pressure just off the west coast of Florida (approximately 80 miles southwest of Tampa). With very little wind shear, conditions in the upper levels of the atmosphere appear favorable for development.

It’s still too early to tell how much this system will develop, and if it does become a Tropical Storm or Hurricane, exactly where it will go.

However, after a very slow start the 2009 Atlantic Hurricane season this is definitely an indication that people in coastal areas need to start paying close attention. It could be a very wet and windy couple of days for some areas of Florida, Alabama and even Louisiana next week.

I’ll continue to monitor the NHC, along with radar and satellite, over the next day or two, and will post a follow-up if I have any unique insights to offer. (I used to work as a satellite analyst at the Joint Typhoon Warning Center, and at the moment I also happen to be on vacation at my parents house near Tampa Florida)

Tropical storm Ana looks to be the first storm of the 2009 hurricane season. The National Weather Bureau is currently tracking the storm nearly 2000 miles away from Florida so there is a wide-margin for error with both Puerto Rico and Cuba in the potential hurricane’s path. The storm is not yet declared a hurricane. There is also another depression in the area which is deepening and may become the next named storm of the season.

Personally I have never lived in an hurricane area -I’d rather deal with an earthquake – I don’t like the idea of knowing on a Saturday that the weather may be a problem on Thursday -which is the estimated landfall for Tropical Storm Ana in southern Florida. If it was me – with the knowledge of how fierce hurricanes can be in Florida and other southern states, I’d be planning on relocating inland and north ASAP.

The main damage from hurricanes appear to not just be the wind but the huge storm surge which causes most of the damage along the coast. Perhaps states such as Florida should really look at encouraging buildings further from the coast with a dune or other open area on the actual foreshore to reduce the damage bill.

I also wonder how easy it is to hurricane proof marinas and harbors – Florida like any sun-filled tropical paradise, has a large number of boats per capita. Boats are costly items and the insurance bill must run into millions in terms of hurricane damage.

There mus also be strict building standards which insist that buildings are built to strict guidelines including shutters and other devices to increase the chances of the building suriviving a major hurricane and reducing the damage bill.