BARNSTABLE – Local emergency planning officials this afternoon reiterated their message from yesterday that Hurricane Arthur does not pose a threat to Cape Cod.
The Barnstable County Regional Emergency Planning Committee held a conference call at 2:30 p.m. Thursday, July 3, to review planning for the hurricane.
After the meeting, the committee issued the following prepared statement: “Current forecasts indicate that Hurricane Arthur does not appear to pose a threat to Cape Cod either through strong winds or storm surge on Friday night into Saturday.
“Current forecasts indicate the hurricane will be at its closest point to Cape Cod during the early hours of Saturday morning and should depart the area quickly.
“There is a chance of tropical-storm-force winds in the range of 40-50 mph on Nantucket and the outer Cape for a brief period of time during the storm’s closest passage.
“A period of heavy rain will precede the storm on Friday. ”
The committee is closely monitoring the storm and given the current forecast does not anticipate activating the Regional Shelter System.
Given the forecast for heavy rain, local officials have canceled or are considering cancellation for a number of July 4 events on Cape Cod and the Islands. The Hyannis fireworks display has been cancelled and the Falmouth fireworks have been rescheduled to Sunday night.
The Hyannis July 4 Parade has been cancelled, as have the Falmouth, Provincetown, and Centerville parades.
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According to the National Hurricane Center, at 2 p.m., the center of Hurricane Arthur was located off the coast of North Carolina and moving north northeast at 13 miles per hour.
A turn toward the northeast with an increase n speed is expected today followed by a further increase in speed tonight and Friday.
The core of Arthur is expected to approach the coast of North Carolina tonight.
Data from an Air Force Reserve Hurricane Hunter Aircraft indicate that maximum sustained winds are near 90 miles per hour with higher gusts. Some strengthening is forecast during the next 24 hours.
Arthur is expected to be a Category Two hurricane when it passes over or near the North Carolina coast.
Arthur is expected to begin weakening Friday night and is forecast to become a post-tropical cyclone on Saturday.
