Meteorological history Hurricane Arthur

map plotting track , intensity of storm, according saffir–simpson scale

on june 25, 2014, area of showers , thunderstorms developed on northern gulf of mexico ahead of shortwave trough in texas. day, national hurricane center (nhc) began monitoring possibility of tropical cyclogenesis off southeast united states on following week system expected encounter favorable environmental conditions. area of low-level vorticity consolidated within system on june 26 moved northeast across louisiana, mississippi, , alabama. following day became intertwined frontal boundary on georgia , south carolina before emerging on far western atlantic ocean on june 28. area of low pressure formed within system off coast of south carolina. favorable environmental conditions fostered further organization of low, though convection remained minimal several days. during latter half of june 30, united states air force weather reconnaissance mission system confirmed presence of well-organized circulation; however, displacement of showers , thunderstorms center delayed classification. subsequent organization of convection banding feature along system s southern flank, depicted radar imagery, prompted nhc designate low tropical depression 1 @ 00:00 utc on july 1. situated 70 mi (110 km) east-southeast of fort pierce, florida, newly christened depression moved westward within area of weak steering currents. turn northward forecast mid-level ridge built on atlantic.

animation of arthur organizing north of bahamas on july 1

throughout july 1, steady structural organization ensued. around 15:00 utc winds of 38 mph (61 km/h) measured @ settlement point on grand bahama, prompting nhc upgrade depression tropical storm , assign name arthur. though environmental conditions surrounding cyclone favored development, moderate wind shear , intrusions of dry air circulation prolonged organization. effects of shear showed on wsr-88d radar imagery melbourne, florida depicted mid-level eye feature displaced 30 35 mi (48 56 km) low-level center. july 2, arthur acquired steady northward track forecast. throughout day, convection consolidated around developing eye wind shear abated , storm neared hurricane strength, winds reaching 70 mph (110 km/h).

early on july 3, data hurricane hunters flying in storm indicated arthur attained hurricane-status 190 mi (310 km) south-southwest of cape fear, north carolina. @ time, hurricane began turning north-northeast approached weakness in subtropical ridge ahead of deep-layer trough on eastern united states. continued improvement of storm s convective structure fostered intensification storm neared north carolina coastline. @ 00:00 utc on july 4, arthur reached peak winds of 100 mph (155 km/h), ranking category 2 hurricane on saffir–simpson hurricane wind scale. first hurricane reach such strength since hurricane sandy in 2012 atlantic hurricane season. storm featured well-defined 25 30 mi (40 48 km) wide eye @ time. thereafter, hurricane made landfall @ 03:15 utc on shackleford banks of north carolina, located between cape lookout , beaufort. upon doing so, became earliest instance of hurricane making landfall in state during calendar year, surpassing previous record of july 11 set unnamed hurricane in 1901. slight deepening of cyclone occurred moved on pamlico sound, barometric pressure bottoming out @ 973 mbar (hpa; 28.73 inhg). continuing across pamlico sound, arthur s eye brushed coastline of dare county before striking north of oregon inlet @ 07:00 , 08:00 utc, respectively.

nasa animation showing progress of hurricane arthur, rain rates , internal structure gpm satellite data

after re-emerging on atlantic ocean on july 4 arthur began weaken. though eye remained well-defined, winds aloft in storm failed mix down surface. traversing decreasing sea surface temperatures , amid increasing shear, arthur began transitioning extratropical cyclone later day. cloud tops associated system warmed , structure became asymmetric. reconnaissance continued indicate strong flight-level winds of 119 mph (192 km/h) surface winds @ time did not exceed 80 mph (130 km/h). accelerating ahead of trough on east coast, arthur s eye dissipated on july 5; storm passed within 75 mi (120 km) of chatham, massachusetts around 03:00 utc. convection became increasingly displaced northeast dry air entrained western portions of circulation. surface winds decreased below hurricane-force 06:00 utc, , arthur completed conversion extratropical system @ 12:00 utc moved on bay of fundy. nhc subsequently issued final advisory on storm , shifted warning responsibility canadian hurricane centre.

the remnants of arthur re-intensified traversed maritimes; sting jet gusts of 65–80 mph (100–130 km/h) developed along storm s backside. former hurricane made additional landfall in region near fundy national park 18:00 utc. july 6, sting jet had dissipated, , steady weakening of cyclone resumed split jet provided upper-level support storm. turning northeast, arthur moved through labrador later day. once on labrador sea, arthur turned northwest while weakening before doubling southeast. after weakening below gale-force strength, extratropical system dissipated late on july 9.

meteorologists noted improved accuracy in national oceanic , atmospheric administration s geophysical fluid dynamics laboratory , hurricane weather research , forecasting models in predicting intensity , track of hurricane arthur.