Hurricane Arthur is a currently active tropical cyclone nearing an anticipated landfall or near-miss of the Outer Banks of North Carolina. The first named storm of the 2014 Atlantic hurricane season, Arthur developed from an area of low pressure just east of Florida early on July 1. Intensification was gradual within an area of otherwise favorable conditions, with the system reaching tropical storm intensity shortly after developing. After meandering just north of the Bahamas early in its existence, Arthur began to steadily track northward, intensifying to hurricane status on July 3.

Meteorological history

On June 27, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) began to monitor a low-pressure area situated over South Carolina which had potential to develop into a tropical cyclone upon moving off the United States East Coast. Upon tracking offshore on June 28, the system began to organize, and despite the presence of dry air serving as a potential inhibitor, the NHC assessed the disturbance with a high chance of becoming a tropical cyclone.

Current storm information

As of 5 p.m. EDT (2100 UTC) July 3, Hurricane Arthur is located within 20 nautical miles of 33°24′N 77°54′W / 33.4°N 77.9°W, about 35 miles (55 km) south of Cape Fear, North Carolina and about 185 miles (300 km) southwest of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina and about. Maximum sustained winds are 80 knots (90 mph, 150 km/h), with stronger gusts. Minimum central pressure is 979 millibars (hPa; 28.91 inHg), and the system is moving north-northeast at 9 knots (13 mph, 20 km/h). Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 35 miles (55 km) from the center of Arthur, and tropical storm-force winds up to 150 miles (240 km) from the center. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration expects for Arthur to eventually intensify into a Category 2 hurricane.