RICHMOND, Va. - Tropical Storm Arthur continues to strengthen this Wednesday off the east-central coast of Florida.
Arthur is the first named storm of the 2014 Hurricane Season in the Atlantic Basin.
Arthur will likely further intensify into a Category 1 hurricane on Thursday as it tracks parallel to the Carolina coast, brushing the Outer Banks of North Carolina late Thursday into Friday morning.
Arthur will impact the Outer Banks early Friday, with the best six-hour window for wind and storm surge coming between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. This timing will likely change a little over the next 24 to 36 hours.
The cold front and Arthur will both clear the region Friday afternoon, leaving good weather for North Carolina and Virginia for the July 4th evening festivities.
