John Ghiorse: Tropical Storm Arthur Attains Hurricane Status
Thursday, July 03, 2014
Overnight Arthur finally attained hurricane status with top sustained winds now pegged at 75 mph. The center of the storm is located just over 300 miles southwest of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina and about 900 miles southwest of Providence. Arthur continues to move on a track that will take the eye very close to if not over the North Carolina outer banks late tonight or very early tomorrow, the 4th. Then it should track northeastward passing 50-100 miles southeast of Nantucket early Saturday morning.
My forecast for the long holiday weekend has not changed very much. From today through tomorrow warm, muggy tropical air will interact with a cool front bringing clusters of heavy showers and thunderstorms through the area. This wet weather is not directly associated with Arthur. The main affects from the hurricane should be heavy surf at the beaches and very rough seas outside of Narragansett Bay on Saturday with those conditions quieting down on Sunday, Skies should clear on Saturday with sunny, warm and less humid weather through Sunday. The heat and humidity should increase again early next week.
Lastly, as always, the caution is that tropical cyclones are notorious for changing course and intensity. Arthur appears to be one that will behave as expected but everyone should stay updated with our latest forecasts until the storm passes the area.
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