First TS of season becomes first hurricane

(CNS): Tropical Storm Arthur became Hurricane Arthur at around 5:00am on Thursday as it headed north off the coast of South Carolina towards the neighbouring state of North Carolina. Located at around 300 miles southwest of Cape Hatteras, the storm is moving at around 9mph with winds in excess of 80mph. Forecasters are predicting that the season's first hurricane, just one month in, will turn toward the northeast and increase in speed and intensity later today and Friday. Arthur is expected to approach the coast in the warning area tonight. Hurricane-force winds extend up to 25 miles and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 90 miles from the centre. For more details visit the NHC website.