2 p.m. update: Tropical Storm Ana expected to make landfall overnight

Early surprise Ana muscled up to a tropical storm early Saturday as it plodded toward the Carolinas, threatening to push dangerous surf and drenching rains up against the Southeast coast as it made its appearance weeks ahead of the official start of the Atlantic hurricane season.

National Weather Service officials in Wilmington, N.C., sent an update on the storm about 5 a.m. Saturday, warning that the then-Subtropical Storm Ana's status had strengthened off the coast, but also saying that the storm is expected to weaken before making landfall overnight Saturday.

Those expectations had not changed by 2 p.m. Saturday.

Officials said the storm will move northwest at 3 mph over cooler shelf water as it reaches the coast, which will lessen its intensity.

However, a tropical storm warning has been issued for Brunswick, N.C., New Hanover, N.C., Pender, N.C., and Horry and Georgetown counties, according to the weather service.

Warnings are also in place from areas around South Santee River to Surf City, N.C.

The storm’s track has changed little from previous warnings, and it’s still expected to make landfall somewhere between Myrtle Beach and Wilmington, N.C. some time overnight, likely closer to the state line.

The first tropical force wind gusts are expected to arrive at coastal areas Saturday afternoon and continue into Sunday. Winds will be 30 to 35 mph and up to 50 mph along the coast. Gusty winds are expected to persist Saturday evening and through Sunday morning.

Heavy rainfall is still expected with an accumulation of several inches, as well as the possibility of tornadoes through early Monday morning. Rivers are not expected to overflow their banks.

Out on the water, winds are reaching 35 to 40 knots and the seas are in excess of 10 feet but closer to 6 to 8 feet near the shore.

Despite being a slow-moving storm, Ana has caused quite a bit of trouble across the Grand Strand already.

Coastal Carolina University had to make some changes to its commencement ceremony that was scheduled for Saturday at Brooks Stadium. Instead, the university held four separate ceremonies inside the HTC Center, two of them on Friday and two of them on Saturday.

Scheduled commencement speaker Michael J. Gerson, the former speechwriter for President George W. Bush, appeared only at the Saturday morning ceremony. University spokeswoman Martha Hunn said the deans of the other three colleges spoke at their respective ceremonies.

Elsewhere at CCU, the baseball game against Liberty was on again, off again as rain stopped and started and employees covered and uncovered the field with a tarp.

High rip currents advisories are in place along the coastal Carolinas, and many beaches have been closed to swimmers since Thursday until further notice.

Find updated advisories on Ana at the National Hurricane Center

This story was originally published May 8, 2015 at 11:49 PM with the headline "2 p.m. update: Tropical Storm Ana expected to make landfall overnight."