The first named storm of the 2014 Hurricane Season, Tropical Storm Arthur could become a Category One hurricane by Friday according to reports.

Tropical Storm Arthur, which was originally a depression offshore of the central Florida coast, was travelling at two miles per hour with maximum sustained winds near 40 miles per hours (mph) with higher gusts up to press time.

Chief Climatological Officer at the Department of Meteorology Michael Stubbs said Arthur was headed toward the northwest Bahamas and expected to remain just offshore and move east of the East-Central coast of Florida within 48 hours.
He also noted that those in the northwest Bahamas should be on alert, but said that Arthur is not a major concern for The Bahamas overall.

“This system is no real threat to The Bahamas as such because it is moving towards the northwest already at a slow pace of two miles per hour,” he said. “However, we would get some residual showers and thunderstorms and gusty winds at times as a result of this. So residents in the northern Bahamas in particular want to pay close attention to this system because if it becomes more developed and reaches hurricane status then it can be a problem for those persons.”

Despite moving at just two miles per hour, Mr. Stubbs said that Arthur, like all tropical storms has the potential to undergo another transformation into that of a hurricane.

“Right now looking at the conditions necessary for the development, those ingredients are currently in place,” he said. “There is lots of moisture, lots of heat energy contained by the ocean beneath, and also at the same time we have the winds right now sort of cooperating because they are not as strong in the upper levels. Right now the conditions are currently ripe for future development from tropical storm status to that of a hurricane.”

Mr. Stubbs did say however that the Met office does not anticipate Arthur becoming a hurricane but insisted that those in the northwest Bahamas, inclusive of Grand Bahama, Abaco, Bimini, the Berry Islands and North Andros stay alert and safeguard themselves and their property from the possibility of flooding in low lying areas.

“The observations that came from satellite and radar show clusters of thunderstorms and showers within these main vicinities,” he said. “We want residents—boaters in particular – to seek safe harbour and residents to stay indoors as much as they can. For the remainder of The Bahamas they can go about their normal business but just be aware of the rainfall that we do anticipate with this system.”