UPDATE 1:19 PM - The National Hurricane Center says Tropical Storm Arthur has formed southeast of Cape Canaveral. It’s the first named storm of the 2014 Atlantic Hurricane Season. It’s expected to become the season's first hurricane, reaching the North Carolina outer banks by Friday morning.
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Tropical Depression One formed last night and now sits only 80 miles east of Vero Beach. Florida Public Radio Meteorologist Jeff Huffman said even though the storm could strengthen over the coming days, the impact to Florida will be rather minimal.“Florida is likely to dodge a bullet,” he said. “Tropical Depression One could strengthen into a hurricane by week’s end, but by then the storm would be primarily a threat to the Mid-Atlantic states.”
The season’s first depression will likely become Tropical Storm Arthur later today as it crawls closer to Florida’s Treasure Coast. Outer rain bands with tropical storm force wind gusts could rotate inland as early as this afternoon from Melbourne to Fort Pierce. The storm is then expected to turn northward and parallel the coast just offshore through Thursday, before moving away to the northeast on Friday. Most of the wind and sea hazards will remain offshore, with the primary inland impact being heavy rain at times.
A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for offshore waters from Flagler Beach to Jupiter Inlet. Tropical Storm Watches are in effect for coastal counties in those same locations. Residents along the east coast beaches could experience tropical storm force wind gusts with any thunderstorms that develop, along with a low risk for water spouts. Further inland across mainly east-central Florida, heavy rain will come in waves through Thursday with storm totals of 2 to 5 inches possible. As the storm moves north and strengthens, the heavy rain and unsettled seas will move north with it to the First Coast by Wednesday night and Thursday. Soon-to-be Tropical Storm Arthur’s presence should leave the state by Friday, the 4th of July.
South Floridians probably won’t feel the storm. “Typical afternoon showers and thunderstorms will continue marching across the peninsula from northeast to southwest, but may be a little stronger at times, through Thursday,” said Huffman. There will be an elevated risk for rip currents and water spouts along the east coast beaches as well.