Look out HH - TS Arthur headed your way

[com_op_2000]

Tropical Storm Arthur, 11 a.m. Tuesday advisory
OUTLOOK: Tropical Storm Arthur emerged off the Florida coast near Cape Canaveral on Tuesday morning. The system is projected to strengthen into a hurricane on Thursday and aim toward North Carolina's Outer Banks.
WHAT FLORIDA CAN EXPECT: Much of the state's east coast should see numerous showers and storms today and Wednesday, and the rain could be heavy at times.
Cape Canaveral National Weather Service Urban flooding is possible in South Florida, the National Weather Service said. The system could produce up to 5 inches of rain over east-central Florida, the National Hurricane Center said.
Today's forecast calls for a 60 percent chance of rain in South Florida and a 40 percent chance in the Orlando area.
FLORIDA ALERTS: A tropical storm watch has been posted from Fort Pierce to Flagler Beach.
PARTICULARS: The first named storm of the 2014 hurricane season, Arthur arrived earlier than normal; the first tropical storm on average appears on July 9.
Arthur's winds are predicted to reach 80 mph, or Category 1 hurricane strength, either late on Thursday or early on Friday while near the Carolinas. Its tropical force winds extend 45 miles from its center.
For now the system is crawling northwest. It's expected to pick up speed turn northeast over the next day. The system likely will bring nasty weather to much of the U.S. East Coast over the next few days.
LOCATION: 95 miles southeast of Cape Canaveral
STRENGTH: 40 mph sustained winds
MOVEMENT: Northwest at 2 mph

 

[JimMIA]

I think Arthur is going to be a non-event for Florida. A little squally weather right along the coast, but I doubt if Orlando will get much effect. VB will probably be wet and windy today. The rainfall predictions are for the heavy rain to remain offshore.

The system may pose problems to people driving down, especially if you are traveling on I-95, and may cause some flight delays.

Swimmers along the coast should be mindful of rip tides and undertow, especially when the winds are coming in directly perpendicular to the shoreline. Depending on the topography of the beach, those can be non-existent in one spot and vicious just a few yards away.

On Thursday, HHI may get some crummy weather, but it looks like the storm will come ashore along the NC Outer Banks (or brush by offshore) as a minimal Category 1 hurricane Thursday night/Friday morning.

 

[Simba's Mom]

I don't know if it was true, but I just keep trying to remind myself of what someone told me once at HHI. She said that because of the location of the resort, it doesn't get effected by strong weather is much as other parts of the island. I remember she said "There's a reason it's called 'Shelter' Cove".

 

[WilsonFlyer]

I don't know if it was true, but I just keep trying to remind myself of what someone told me once at HHI. She said that because of the location of the resort, it doesn't get effected by strong weather is much as other parts of the island. I remember she said "There's a reason it's called 'Shelter' Cove".

Keep believing that.

The right storm hasn't come through yet, but it will. They always do.

At this point, I'm a lot more worried about us than I am HHI, but to be honest, this looks more and more like a good NE'er than a real storm. Fingers crossed that I'm right, though I've seen some NE'ers that put some Cat 1 and 2 hurricanes to shame.

 

[RumpleMom]

JimMIA

May I ask that you keep us updated on TS Arthur on this thread? Especially NC

Many thanks if you are able to do this.

 

[dlm1017]

The last hurricane to directly hit Hilton Head was in 1893 (Gracie) Hugo came close in 1989 but turned and hit Charleston. Floyd in 1999 also came close but turned as well. I would expect a lot of rain and some wind. It is the Low Country so flooding is always possible.

We just bought a home in Bluffton ( just over the bridge from the island) One of the things that I researched was hurricanes.

Hilton Head is tucked in so much so that hurricanes come up the coast of Florida and head north, unfortunately right for the Outer Banks of North Carolina . I was told that if you look at a map and go due north you would be in Ohio!

 

[JimMIA]

JimMIA

May I ask that you keep us updated on TS Arthur on this thread? Especially NC

Many thanks if you are able to do this.

At this stage, it's pretty hard to predict what the effect of this storm will be on a particular location. A jog of a few degrees right or left could mean serious problems, or a rainy day.

If you are IN NC, I would stay tuned to local media. They are very used to hurricane threats, and will be far more accurate than cable TV...who will mostly be selling advertising.

The one other really good source of information is the National Hurricane Center: www.nhc.noaa.gov The only difficulty with NHC is that they are looking at the system as a whole, and don't look at specific localities. But they are the most accurate source of information.

 

[WilsonFlyer]

It's gonna blow wind and rain on our heads. Hard. Not good.

Wish us luck.

 

[JimMIA]

It's gonna blow wind and rain on our heads. Hard. Not good.

Wish us luck.

Yep, the forecast now calls for 105 MPH winds, which is a strong Category 2...close to Category 3 (>111 MPH). Hopefully, it will be a glancing blow, not straight-on.

Batten down, and good luck!

 

[sallysue66]

I'm right on the NC coast just above the SC line. It's rainy, pouring buckets at times, and the wind is gusty. But so far it's not slowing anybody down. I am glad I didn't have to leave my office for lunch today because when the wind gusts you are going to get soaked unless you are wearing full raingear.

I'm just hoping this is our only hurricane this year

 

[RobDoc]

HH is 91 right now. A little overcast and breezy but nothing out of the ordinary. I played tennis this morning without any issue. There has been no rain here today.

The surf has been higher today than the last few days but still no beach closure.

It looks like HH has dodged another one. It is offshore near Myrtle Beach now and past us here although we will still get some feeder bands passing thru.

Good luck in NC! Hatteras is under mandatory evacuation.

 

[WilsonFlyer]

I'm right on the NC coast just above the SC line. It's rainy, pouring buckets at times, and the wind is gusty. But so far it's not slowing anybody down. I am glad I didn't have to leave my office for lunch today because when the wind gusts you are going to get soaked unless you are wearing full raingear.

I'm just hoping this is our only hurricane this year

Amen. Baton down and good luck. Gettin' worse down there by the minute now.

 

[DisneyDiana]

Wow, good luck WilsonFlyer! Keep us posted when you can. I live on the bay in NJ, Sandy destroyed us but we have since rebuilt. It is such a scary thing when you have no control. Be safe!

 

[WilsonFlyer]

Pretty good blow but all in all, it could have been a lot worse. Pamlico Sound, Hatteras, Ocrakoke, and Rodanthe caught the blunt of it. Thankfully, it was a fairly small storm and we never felt the blunt of it inland for any kind of extended period. Small blows but nothing major at all. Power outages are the big thing right now from what we can tell.

Onward and upward. Two weeks and counting!

 

[bobbiwoz]

Pretty good blow but all in all, it could have been a lot worse. Pamlico Sound, Hatteras, Ocrakoke, and Rodanthe caught the blunt of it. Thankfully, it was a fairly small storm and we never felt the blunt of it inland for any kind of extended period. Small blows but nothing major at all. Power outages are the big thing right now from what we can tell.

Onward and upward. Two weeks and counting!

Good for you!

 

[JimMIA]

Glad to hear you made it through okay.

 

[WilsonFlyer]

Thanks everybody! Let's hope that's the mainland strike for the year. As we say around here when we dodge a bullet, "We'll take it."