Hurricane Arthur Headed to Nova Scotia, Winds 70 MPH

UPDATE: 07/05/2014    0536   Hurricane Arthur is headed toward Nova Scotia and into Canada.  Maximum sustained winds are 70mph.

It is expected to continue on the path northeast at about 22mph.

The State of North Carolina is reporting minor damage and injuries although the only highway between Hatteras Island and the mainland was temporarily washed out.

The National Weather Service says that "(s)atellite imagery and data from an Air Force reconnaissance plane indicate that Arhtur is rapidly losing tropical characteristics" (as of 0500 on Saturday, July 5, 2014).

Arthur-inspired rain through the rest of the northeast ended in time for the Macy's Fireworks display, the largest in the country, taking place in the East River between Manhattan and Brooklyn.

UPDATE: 07/04/2014   0600     Hurricane Arthur is moving out to shore.  The eye of the storm is headed away from the Outer Banks of North Carolina.  Winds are now reported as being between 70-80 miles per hour.

UPDATE: 07/04/2014   0400     Hurricane Arthur is now a Category 2 storm with 100mph winds.  The eye has reached the northern outer banks of North Carolina.

The storm has dumped between four and eight inches of rain throughout North Carolina.  No injuries have been reported at this time and officials say that it is too early to predict potential property damage assessments.

UPDATE: 07/03/2014  18167    Hurricane Arthur is now at the North Carolina coast.  The National Weather Service says it is still moving north-northeast at approximately 11 knots / thirteen miles per hour.

UPDATE: 07/03/2014  1107    Hurricane Arthur is now approximately 150 miles south of Cape Fear with 80mph winds.  The National Weather Service says it is moving north-northeast at approximately ten miles per hour.

UPDATE: 07/03/2014  0535    Arthur is now classified as a hurricane.

Mandatory evacuations are underway in parts of the Carolinas.

Original Story:

Storm warnings of various types are being issued as Tropical Storm Arthur moves northward and gains strength.

Forecasters are expecting it to be a hurricane by late Thursday evening, July 3, 2014, threatening the Independence Day holiday for millions along the coastal Carolinas.

A tropical storm watch is in effect for South Carolina, but is no longer in effect for Florida.  A hurricane warning is in effect for the Outer Banks and parts of North Carolina.

The National Weather Service National Hurricane Center in Miami, Florida has issued the following warnings at this hour:

A Hurricane Warning is in effect for:

• Surf City northward to Duck
• Pamlico Sound
• Eastern Albemarle Sound

Experts are advising anyone in the possible path of Arthur to take hurricane-worthy precautions at this time.

The Associated Press' Bruce Smith reported on Wednesday evening that the evacuation of residents of Hatteras Island is mandatory as of 5:00am on Thursday, July 3rd.  Flooding is expected along NC-12.

Residents of Ocracoke Island are also being told to leave.