Tropical Storm Arthur moves away from Florida coastline

Tropical Storm Arthur moved away from Florida’s coastline Sunday evening, but placed North Carolina under a tropical storm warning.

The National Hurricane Center’s 5 p.m. advisory issued the warning for portions of the North Carolina coast — from Surf City to Duck, Pamlico and Albemarle Sounds. Heavy rains, surf and tropical-stormforce winds are expected within the next 24 hours as the storm’s outer bands creep toward the state.

Arthur, the first named storm of the 2020 hurricane season, formed late Saturday night off Florida’s east coast.

The latest NHC update said the storm was located 275 miles south-southwest of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, with maximum sustained winds of 45 mph and higher gusts extending 125 miles from its center. Arthur was moving to the north-northeast at about 9 mph.

“A turn toward the northeast with an increase in forward speed is expected during the next 24 to 36 hours,” the NHC said. “A turn toward the east is forecast to occur on Tuesday. Arthur remained well offshore of the coasts of Georgia and South Carolina Sunday night, and then will move near or just east of the coast of North Carolina today. Arthur is forecast to turn away from the east coast of the United States tonight and Tuesday.”

Based on NHC reports, Arthur is expected to produce total rain accumulations of 1 to 3 inches over coastal North Carolina Sunday night and today.

“Swells generated by

Arthur are affecting portions of the southeast U.S. coast and are expected to spread northward along the U.S. mid-Atlantic coast during the next day or two,” the NHC said. “These swells could cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions.”

Arthur marks the sixth consecutive year a named storm has formed in May – before the official start of hurricane season June 1.

Last year, Subtropical Storm Andrew formed May 20. The first hurricane of 2019 was Barry, which formed July 11.