page_title: Tropical Storm Arthur (2020)
section_title: Florida
hierarchical_section_title: Tropical Storm Arthur (2020) / Preparations and impact / Florida
caption_attribution_description: English: Tropical Storm Arthur at its closest approach to North Carolina on May 18, 2020.
context_page_description: Tropical Storm Arthur was a relatively strong off-season tropical storm that impacted the U.S state of North Carolina in May 2020. The first depression and first named storm of the 2020 Atlantic hurricane season, Arthur marked the record sixth consecutive year in the Atlantic basin with an early start before June. It was one of two off-season storms in the season, alongside short-lived Tropical Storm Bertha. Originating from a broad trough that formed on May 14 near Cuba, the early system slowly drifted south of Florida through the Florida Strait for two days, before becoming a depression on May 16 north of The Bahamas, starting the Atlantic season. A day later, the system would be named Arthur and slowly drift north towards the Outer Banks of North Carolina, before skirting the same area and weakening as it moved towards Bermuda.
  In its formative stages, Arthur delivered heavy rainfall to the Florida Keys and South Florida, and also caused rough surf off the majority off the east coast of Florida.
context_section_description: Although Arthur never directly impacted Florida as a tropical system, the precursor system to Arthur caused heavy rainfall and gusty winds in the Florida Keys and South Florida throughout May 13-14. Over 4 in (101.6 mm) of rain fell in many sections of the Middle Keys and a peak rainfall total of 5.35 in (135.8 mm) fell in Marathon on May 14, where it was the tenth highest rainfall amount for the city on record and second most for May. Flash flood warnings were issued for large portions of Miami-Dade County on May 14, where street flooding was reported. Tropical storm-force wind gusts as well as waterspouts prompted the issuance of gale warnings and special marine warnings across the majority of South Florida. Rip currents in Florida led to the water rescues of 70 people in Volusia County, 3 of who were hospitalized. Purple and red flags were raised along the coasts of Georgia and South Carolina to alert the public for rip currents. Offshore Georgia, 3-6 ft (0.9-1.8 m) waves were reported. Damage across Florida reached $112,000.
caption: Arthur on its closest approach to North Carolina on radar on May 18
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