Many Americans living on the East Coast may have a wet Fourth of July celebration thanks to Hurricane Arthur. Although current predictions are that the storm will veer back off the coast and into the Atlantic by Thursday evening, and thus not pose too major a problem, the storm could wreck the holiday plans of millions of people if it moves inland.
Hurricane Arthur’scurrent path prediction
Hurricane Arthur, the first named storm of the 2014 hurricane season, is likely to make driving dangerous on Wednesday and Thursday, but should not spoil most of Friday’s holiday celebrations as it is expected to away from land.
Furthermore, there’s a good chance the storm will not impact the huge fireworks show on Washington’s National Mall, according to weather forecasters.
The tropical storm is anticipated to become a Category 1 hurricane Thursday afternoon, somewhere off the coast of North Carolina, with top wind speeds of at least 75 mph.
Boston likely to see rain on the 4th
It looks like Boston might might be the one major city that will see significant rain on the holiday.
The storm is predicted to result in thunderstorms over the fireworks show in Boston Friday evening. However, local and state officials aren’t cancelling the the big show just yet. “I think we’re going to defer any conversations or decisions about the weather at least until tomorrow,” Massachusetts State Police spokesman Timothy Alben told CNN affiliate WCVB on Tuesday.
Florida getting soaked Wednesday
On Wednesday, Hurricane Arthur was gradually moving along Florida’s northern Atlantic coast, dropping inches of rain there and in the Bahamas. The storm was also approaching hurricane strength, with maximum sustained winds of over 60 mph.
The passage of the storm, however, makes the Florida coast a perfect place to spend July 4th, as Arthur will be far north of there by Friday, leaving sunshine and scoured clean beaches in its wake.
Hurricane Arthur will likely be out in the Atlantic by Saturday, and no threat to the rest of the holiday weekend.
