JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The past 25 years have seen a staggering increase of tropical storms and hurricanes in the Atlantic Hurricane Basin. Next month at the World Meteorological Organization meeting, there will be a discussion on whether to start the 2022 (and beyond) hurricane season on May 15. The change would NOT apply to the 2021 hurricane season. An effort is underway to examine the potential advantages and disadvantages of changing the official start date of the Atlantic hurricane season,” said Communications and Public Affairs Officer Dennis Feltgen. Through the first 150 years of hurricane record keeping (for the Atlantic Hurricane Basin), there were 19 early seasons, about once every eight years.

The St. Johns River Water Management Districts website provides easy access to valuable data and information to assist the public and local governments before, during and after severe storm events. The early development of Tropical Storm Arthur recently is a good reminder that now is the time to prepare for hurricane season, said St. Johns River Water Management District Executive Director Dr. Ann Shortelle. Links to the National Weather Service, Florida Division of Emergency Management and the U.S. Geological Surveys interactive map of current conditions in the state are also available via the website at www.sjrwmd.com/data/. The district and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection issue permits to install stormwater systems, which typically then become the legal responsibility of a homeowners association or property management company. Property owners have a vital role in preparing for hurricane season, which officially runs through Nov. 30.

Tropical Storm Arthur moved further out to sea Tuesday and was expected to dissipate into a depression before dumping heavy rain on Bermuda later in the week. The first named storm of the Atlantic hurricane season sent rain over North Carolina Monday and forecasters warned to expect dangerous surf and rip currents for another day along parts of the U.S. East Coast. The storm had top sustained winds of 60 mph (95 kmh) Tuesday morning, and was moving east-northeast at 15 mph (24 kmh) on a path that would carry its center over the island of Bermuda on Thursday. Arthur formed Saturday in waters off Florida, marking the sixth straight year that a named storm has developed before June 1. By late Monday, storm watches and warnings in effect for parts of the North Carolina coast were canceled.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Tropical Storm Arthur crawled closer to the North Carolina coast early Monday, amid threats of some minor flooding and rough seas as the system moves off the Southeast seaboard. The U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami issued a tropical storm warning for North Carolina’s Outer Banks on Sunday. | Prepare for hurricane seasonTropical Storm Arthur formed Saturday evening off the Florida coast as the first named storm of the 2020 hurricane season. Early this week, Tropical Storm Arthur is forecast to move generally northeastward over the western Atlantic and likely pass near Bermuda. The full 11 a.m. Monday statement from the NHC:“At 1100 AM EDT (1500 UTC), the center of Tropical Storm Arthur was located near latitude 35.1 North, longitude 75.2 West.

MIAMI Tropical Storm Arthur moved out to sea Monday after dumping heavy rain on North Carolina as forecasters warned that the first named storm of the Atlantic hurricane season could continue to whip dangerous surf and rip currents for another day or more along the U.S. East Coast. By late Monday, storm watches and warnings that had been in effect for parts of the North Carolina coast were canceled. The Hurricane Center said Arthur was moving northeast at 16 mph (26 kph) Monday afternoon as its center pulled away from the U.S. mainland. At 5 p.m. EDT, the storms center was located about 110 miles (175 kilometers) northeast of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina. North Carolina Emergency Management Director Mike Sprayberry said that over-wash or standing water had closed a highway on the Outer Banks and another on the mainland.

Tropical Storm Arthur, the first named storm in the Atlantic for 2020, will bring high surf, heavy rains and strong winds to the coast of North Carolina. "Everyone in our coastal areas should remain aware and cautious as Arthur brushes our coast on Monday," Gov. "Pay close attention to the forecast and don't take chance in dangerous surf." Red and purple flags were flown Sunday to indicate dangerous rip current conditions and dangerous marine life, after Portuguese man-o-wars washed up on beaches the past two days. But its not uncommon to have rough surf and dangerous rip current conditions this time of year.

— National Hurricane Center (@NHC_Atlantic) May 16, 2020While the system is likely to become Tropical Storm Arthur while off our coast, we’ll be on the dry side of the storm and will likely only feel its impact along the immediate coastline. MORE ONLINE: Track the Tropics | Why so many May tropical storms east of Jacksonville? Subtropical storms are not as defined as tropical storms, with its strongest winds located some distance from it’s loosely formed center. They are also not a strong as tropical storms. If these trends continues, advisories will likely be initiated on this system as a tropical or subtropical depression later today.

Afternoon highs on Sunday reached the upper 80s low 90s in some spots. Monday will be HOT, we top out in the low 90s. Temperatures will be warm in the upper 80s low 90s. Wednesday through the end of the week well see highs in the upper 80s low 90s with daily afternoon rain chance around 20%-30%. Temperatures this week (wjxt)Tropical:Tropical Storm Arthur continues to churn off the East Coast with max sustained wind speeds of 45 mph and gusts up to 60 mph.