TYBEE ISLAND, Ga. (AP) -- Five-foot waves crashed by the pier and 26 mile per hour gusts whipped clouds of sand as the first named storm of 2007 formed Wednesday off the Georgia coast --three weeks before the official start of the Atlantic hurricane season.

Subtropical Storm Andrea churned about 100 miles southeast of Savannah. The National Hurricane Center predicted the storm would not pose much of a threat. But its early appearance was a little unnerving to some in the beach town of Tybee Island near Savannah.

Most stayed out of the water, though a few surfers waxed their board and tried to catch waves in rough seas that churned the water to white foam as it crashed onshore.

The storm had top sustained winds of about 45 miles per hour Wednesday. The hurricane center in Miami issued a tropical storm watch for parts of Georgia and Florida, meaning tropical storm conditions are possible within 36 hours.

At 2 p.m., Andrea was centered about 100 miles southeast of Savannah and about 135 miles northeast of Daytona Beach. The storm was moving west at about three miles per hour.

Coast Guard officials in South Carolina said they had rescued one of two kayakers from Atlanta who had been missing since yesterday when they were seen leaving Seabrook Island, South Carolina. Authorities said 28-year-old Jeremy Scott was found about five miles east of Fripp Island. They continue to search for 27-year-dld Stephen Lee.

(Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)