DEPRESSION STRENGTHENED INTO TROPICAL STORM ARTHUR…

…DEPRESSION STRENGTHENED INTO TROPICAL STORM ARTHUR…
…TROPICAL STORM WARNING ISSUED FOR THE NORTH CAROLINA OUTER BANKS…

Tropical Storm Arthur is centered at 5 a.m. EDT about 380 miles (610 km) south-southwest of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina. It’s moving toward the north-northeast near 9 mph (15 km/h). A turn toward the northeast with an increase in forward speed is expected to ccur during the next 24 to 48 hours. On the forecast track, Arthur will remain well offshore the east coast of Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina today, and then move near or just east of the coast of North Carolina on Monday.

Maximum sustained winds are near 40 mph (65 km/h) with higher gusts. Tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 80 miles (130 km)from the center. Some strengthening is forecast to occur during the next 48 hours. Arthur is likely to lose its tropical characteristics on Tuesday.

A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect forSurf City to Duck, NOrth Carolina, including Pamlico and Albemarle Sound. Tropical storm conditions are expected within the warning area on Monday.

Arthur is expected to produce total rain accumulations of 1 to 3 inches over coastal North Carolina tonight and Monday, with locally higher amounts. Swells generated by Arthur are affecting portions of the east coast of Central and North Florida. These swells are expected to spread northward during the next few days, and could cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions across much of the U.S. southeast and mid-Atlantic coasts. Please consult products from your local weather office – www.weahter.gov

The next complete advisory will be issued by NHC at 11 a.m. EDT with an intermediate advisory at 8 a.m. EDT- hurricanes.gov