Tropical Storm Arthur Forming in Atlantic

Storm could become a hurricane, reaching North Carolina’s coast before the holiday weekend.

July 02, 2014

ATLANTA – Tropical Storm Arthur has formed off eastern Florida, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) said, making it the first named storm of the 2014 Atlantic hurricane season.

According to the NHC, the storm system could reach minimal hurricane strength by the time it hits North Carolina’s Outer Banks on Thursday night. Florida can also expect heavy rain today, with accumulations of 1 to 3 inches expected, and up to 5 inches in some areas.

According to a report from one of CNN’s local affiliates in Wilmington, North Carolina, most residents don’t seem overly concerned about Arthur’s approach. Lee Nettles, the executive director of the Outer Banks Visitors Bureau, told CNN that his office hasn't received any panicked or alarmed calls from anyone. "You take every storm warning seriously," he said. "But, for the most part, folks aren't overly concerned."

CNN meteorologist Chad Myers said the fact that the Outer Banks, a string of barrier islands, is hard to get onto and off of may make the situation difficult for those who are planning to spend their July Fourth holiday there. The islands are low and rain could easily wash onto the roads, making them impassable even before the eye of the storm makes landfall, he said. All preparation for the storm should be done as soon as possible, he stressed.

After hitting the Carolinas, the system is likely to turn northeast, forecasters said, bringing showers to Washington, D.C., New York City and Boston. It's still unclear just how torrential the downpour could be or how it might affect the July Fourth holiday and beyond.

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