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THE FIRST TROPICAL STORM OF THE ATLANTIC SEASON STRENGTHENS
OVER THE OPEN OCEAN

July 15, 2002 — At 11 a.m. EDT, the center of Tropical Storm Arthur—the first named storm of the 2002 Atlantic hurricane season—was located near latitude 36.4 north, longitude 69.7 west or about 725 miles southwest of Sable Island, Nova Scotia. Arthur is moving toward the east-northeast near 23 mph, and this general motion is expected to continue for the next 24 hours with a gradual increase in forward speed, according to NOAA's National Hurricane Center. (Click NOAA satellite image for larger view of Tropical Storm Arthur taken on July 15, 2002, at 10:15 a.m. EDT.)

Earlier U.S. Navy ship reports and observations from NOAA buoy 41001 indicate that maximum sustained winds are near 50 mph with higher gusts. Little change in strength is forecast during the next 24 hours.

Tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 70 miles mainly northeast through southeast of the center. The estimated minimum central pressure is 1001 mb, 29.56 inches.

Hurricane seasons runs from June 1 through November 30.

Click NOAA tracking map for larger view.

Relevant Web Sites
NOAA's National Hurricane Center — Get the latest advisories here

Hurricane Forecasters Say 6 to 8 Hurricanes Could Threaten in 2002; NOAA Expects Normal to Slightly above Normal Atlantic Storm Activity

Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale

NOAA Buoys

NOAA Satellite Images — The latest satellite views

Colorized Satellite Images

NOAA 3-D Satellite Images

NOAA's Hurricanes Page

NOAA's Storm Watch — Get the latest severe weather information across the USA

Media Contact:
Frank Lepore, NOAA's National Hurricane Center, (305) 229-4404

 

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