TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) – The “official” start of the Atlantic basin tropical season is still over two weeks away, but it appears as though the 2020 season is once again off to an early start.

Tropical Depression One formed off of the Florida Atlantic coast, about 125 miles east of Melbourne earlier this afternoon. A Hurricane Hunter reconnaissance flight this evening found that the depression has strengthened into a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 40 MPH. Tropical Storm Arthur is officially the first named storm of the 2020 Atlantic Basin tropical season.


Official NHC forecast track for Tropical Storm Arthur valid Saturday 11 PM.

This is now the sixth season in a row with a named storm before the official start of the Atlantic basin tropical season on June 1.

Tropical Storm Arthur will continue to move away from Florida tonight. A Tropical Storm Watch has been issued for coastal North Carolina where Arthur will likely make a close approach on Monday as a tropical storm.

No impacts are expected locally across the Tampa Bay area.