Tropical Storm Arthur Kicks Off Atlantic Hurricane Season

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Tropical Storm Arthur
A 3D view of rainfall within the tropical depression offshore of Florida on June 29. (Image credit: NOAA)

The first tropical storm of the Atlantic hurricane season has finally formed, and it's likely to foul Fourth of July festivities for some East Coast residents this weekend.

The National Hurricane Center declared the formation of Tropical Storm Arthur this morning (July 1). Arthur is the first named storm of the 2014 Atlantic hurricane season.

Arthur is expected to strengthen into a category one hurricane by 2 a.m. ET on Friday, July 4, as it briefly makes landfall on North Carolina's Outer Banks. A category one hurricane has winds stronger than 74 mph (119 km/h).

However, the "cone of uncertainty" in the storm's future track means Arthur could brush over the Carolina coast or stay offshore on Friday.

(Image credit: NOAA)

The storm could also rake the Mid-Atlantic coast with strong winds and rain this weekend.

The 2014 Atlantic hurricane season forecast issued in May called for fewer storms than average, with a total of eight to 13 named storms, which include tropical storms (when winds reach 39 to 73 mph, or 62 to 117 km/h) and hurricanes. Between three and six of those storms are likely to become hurricanes, according to forecasters with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 through Nov. 30.

Email Becky Oskin or follow her @beckyoskin. Follow us @livescience, Facebook & Google+. Original article on Live Science.

Becky Oskin
Becky Oskin
Contributing Writer
Becky Oskin covers Earth science, climate change and space, as well as general science topics. Becky was a science reporter at Live Science and The Pasadena Star-News; she has freelanced for New Scientist and the American Institute of Physics. She earned a master's degree in geology from Caltech, a bachelor's degree from Washington State University, and a graduate certificate in science writing from the University of California, Santa Cruz.