Further weakening occurred; when Anna made landfall in Belize (then known as British Honduras) on July 24, winds decreased to 80 mph (130 km/h).

As a developing tropical cyclone over the Leeward Islands, Anna produced strong winds over Grenada, though damage was limited to some crops, trees, and telephone poles.

On July 16, Television Infrared Observation Satellite (TIROS) imagery showed a cloud mass situated about 1,020 miles (1,640 km) west-southwest of the southernmost islands of Cape Verde.

[1] The existence of an easterly wave was not confirmed by United States Navy reconnaissance aircraft and ship reports until the following day, at which time the system was located over 445 miles (716 km) east of Antigua.

Although no circulation existed while the wave approached the Windward Islands, significant amounts of deep convection was associated with the system and located near the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ).

Early on July 20, ship reports indicated a developing circulation between Grenada and Trinidad;[2] squalls on the former island produced wind gusts as strong as 50 mph (80 km/h).

[3] According to HURDAT – the North Atlantic hurricane database – the system developed into Tropical Storm Anna at 0000 UTC on July 20,[4] as confirmed by a reconnaissance aircraft flight.

[3] Situated about 25 miles (40 km) east-northeast of Tobago with an initial wind speed of 40 mph (64 km/h),[4] Anna immediately began to strengthen while moving slightly north of due west.

At 1200 UTC on the next day, Anna attained its peak intensity with maximum sustained winds of 105 mph (169 km/h) and a minimum barometric pressure of 976 mbar (28.8 inHg).

Around 12:00 UTC on the following day, Anna made landfall in a rural area of Stann Creek District, Belize, with winds of 80 mph (130 km/h).

[4] The United States Weather Bureau issued tropical cyclone watches and warnings for Venezuela, Curaçao, Bonaire and Aruba.

[12] The hurricane was also forecast to bring heavy rainfall to the mountainous areas of Belize, causing a concern for flash flooding.