Tropical Storm Arthur (2020)
Tropical Storm Arthur peaked at 55 kt in the North Atlantic between May 16, 2020 and May 21, 2020, with a lowest pressure of 989 mb.
Track and intensity
The whole track of Tropical Storm Arthur, colored by strength, with the other storms of the 2020 season in the same basin behind it, and its wind and pressure hour by hour. Every fix is in the track table below.
The storm
- Basin
- North Atlantic
- Dates
- May 16, 2020 to May 21, 2020
- Peak strength
- Tropical Storm, 55 kt (63 mph)
- Lowest pressure
- 989 mb (29.21 inHg)
- Landfall
- No; closest approach 64 km (40 mi)
- Accumulated cyclone energy
- 1.8
- Tropical-storm-force wind reached
- 300 nmi (556 km, 345 mi) from the center at its widest
- Eyewall radius at its peak
- 40 nmi (74 km, 46 mi)
- Overall size
- 180 nmi (333 km, 207 mi) to the outermost closed isobar
- Peak gust in the best track
- 60 kt (69 mph)
- Fastest the center moved
- 15 kt (17 mph)
- Identifier
- AL012020
Deaths and damage
The sources count different things and are not added together.
National Hurricane Center
0 direct deathsnone recorded in the United States
The season table in NHC’s report archive, final report. Direct deaths are those caused by the storm’s own wind, water or surge, anywhere in the world.
NOAA Storm Events
0 deaths (0 direct, 0 indirect)$110,000
What National Weather Service offices recorded county by county in 3 states and marine areas, in the United States only. Property and crop damage as each office estimated it, which is not a national loss total.
In the United States
NOAA’s Storm Events database, the record National Weather Service offices compile months after a storm, as compiled March 2026.
- Deaths
- 0 (0 direct, 0 indirect)
- Injuries
- 1
- Property damage
- $104,000
- Crop damage
- $6,000
- Events recorded
- 34 in 5 reports from 3 states and marine areas
State by state
| State or marine area | Deaths | Injuries | Damage | Events |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Florida | 0 | 1 | $110,000 | 21 |
| Atlantic South | 0 | 0 | 9 | |
| Gulf of Mexico | 0 | 0 | 4 |
What was recorded
12 marine thunderstorm wind, 8 thunderstorm wind, 7 flood, 2 heavy rain, 1 waterspout, 1 flash flood, 1 funnel cloud, 1 hail, 1 lightning.
Tornadoes and waterspouts
1 waterspout recorded in the United States.
Rainfall
The Weather Prediction Center attributes 1,719 rain gauge totals over the contiguous United States to this storm. The wettest reached 9.95 inches (253 mm).
| Station | Total | Position |
|---|---|---|
| Marathon 6.8 ENE | 9.95 in (253 mm) | 24.74N 80.98W |
| Oakland Park 1.0 WNW | 9.08 in (231 mm) | 26.18N 80.17W |
| MARATHON 7ENE | 8.35 in (212 mm) | 24.74N 80.98W |
| FORT LAUDERDALE EXECUTIVE APT | 8.22 in (209 mm) | 26.20N 80.17W |
| BIG PINE KEY 4ESE | 7.14 in (181 mm) | 24.66N 81.28W |
| LAUDERDALE LAKES 1E | 6.97 in (177 mm) | 26.17N 80.18W |
| Fort Lauderdale 1.9 SSW | 6.84 in (174 mm) | 26.12N 80.15W |
| Islamorada 7.8 SW | 6.84 in (174 mm) | 24.85N 80.74W |
| Islamorada 7.8 SW | 6.72 in (171 mm) | 24.85N 80.74W |
| Sunrise 0.4 NNE | 6.64 in (169 mm) | 26.16N 80.30W |
| Lauderdale Lakes 1 E | 6.52 in (166 mm) | 26.16N 80.18W |
| Sunrise Florida | 6.46 in (164 mm) | 26.18N 80.27W |
WPC’s storm rainfall file, 1900 to 2020, compiled by David Roth.
Wind reports
The strongest winds National Weather Service offices recorded with this storm. An estimated figure is a forecaster’s judgment from the damage, not an instrument reading.
| Wind | How | Where | State | Time (UTC) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 50 kt (58 mph) | Measured | 1.27 S of EAST NAPLES | Florida | May 18, 21:37 |
| 50 kt (58 mph) | Estimated | 1.24 W of MARCO IS ARPT | Florida | May 18, 21:55 |
| 41 kt (47 mph) | Measured | 4.63 NW of KREAMER ISLAND | Atlantic South | May 18, 19:15 |
| 41 kt (47 mph) | Measured | 10.38 S of WIGGINS PASS | Gulf of Mexico | May 18, 21:54 |
| 40 kt (46 mph) | Measured | 3.39 SSW of KEY BISCAYNE | Atlantic South | May 17, 20:50 |
| 39 kt (45 mph) | Measured | 39.35 SE of WIGGINS PASS | Gulf of Mexico | May 18, 22:14 |
What forecast offices wrote
From the Storm Events narratives, unedited.
A 42 mph (36 kt) thunderstorm wind gust was measured by the Biscayne Bay Light WxFlow mesonet site (XKBS). Height of the anemometer is 20 feet above the surface.
Biscayne Bay, Atlantic South · Marine Thunderstorm Wind · May 17, 20:41 UTC
A thunderstorm wind gust of 46 mph (40 kt) was measured by the Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science at University of Miami Mesonet site on Virginia Key.
Biscayne Bay, Atlantic South · Marine Thunderstorm Wind · May 17, 20:50 UTC
Several inches of rain, with measured amounts ranging from 4 to 8 inches, and locally higher amounts, caused flooding in portions of Boynton and Delray Beach. Broadcast media shared a video that showed flooding near the intersection of Congress Ave and Woolbright Rd in Boynton Beach. One car stalled while others turned around. The Weather Underground station KFLDELRA49 in the Sabal Lakes Community of Delray Beach measured 5.41 inches of rain whereas the Weather Underground station KFLDELRA71 near Lake Ida in Delray Beach measured 7.37 inches of rain.
Palm Beach, Florida · Flood · May 18, 18:00 UTC
Several inches of rain, with measured amounts ranging from 3 to 6 inches, and locally higher amounts, caused flooding in portions of Boynton Beach and Ocean Ridge. Law enforcement reported Woolbright Road was closed from Federal Highway to the intracoastal waterway bridge due to heavy rainfall. The Weather Underground station KFLBOYNT1 near Bethesda Hospital East in Boynton Beach measured 5.43 inches of rain.
Palm Beach, Florida · Flash Flood · May 18, 19:00 UTC
A 39 mph (34 kt) thunderstorm wind gust was measured by the Earth Networks Mesonet site at the Charter Club of Marco Island (MRCSC).
Chokoloskee To Bonita Beach Fl Out 20nm, Gulf of Mexico · Marine Thunderstorm Wind · May 18, 21:47 UTC
A 45 mph (39 kt) thunderstorm wind gust was measured by the Earth Networks Mesonet site at the Everglades City School (EVRCS).
Chokoloskee To Bonita Beach Fl Out 20nm, Gulf of Mexico · Marine Thunderstorm Wind · May 18, 22:14 UTC
Track
| Time (UTC) | Position | Wind | Pressure | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 16, 18:00 | 28.0N 78.7W | 30 kt | 1008 mb | Tropical depression |
| May 17, 00:00 | 28.9N 78.0W | 35 kt | 1006 mb | Tropical storm |
| May 17, 06:00 | 29.6N 77.6W | 35 kt | 1004 mb | Tropical storm |
| May 17, 12:00 | 30.3N 77.5W | 35 kt | 1003 mb | Tropical storm |
| May 17, 18:00 | 31.0N 77.3W | 40 kt | 1003 mb | Tropical storm |
| May 18, 00:00 | 31.9N 77.0W | 40 kt | 1003 mb | Tropical storm |
| May 18, 06:00 | 33.1N 76.7W | 40 kt | 1002 mb | Tropical storm |
| May 18, 12:00 | 34.4N 75.9W | 45 kt | 1000 mb | Tropical storm |
| May 18, 18:00 | 35.5N 74.7W | 45 kt | 993 mb | Tropical storm |
| May 19, 00:00 | 36.2N 73.1W | 50 kt | 991 mb | Tropical storm |
| May 19, 06:00 | 36.8N 71.4W | 50 kt | 990 mb | Tropical storm |
| May 19, 12:00 | 37.0N 69.5W | 55 kt | 989 mb | Extratropical |
| May 19, 18:00 | 36.9N 67.8W | 50 kt | 991 mb | Extratropical |
| May 20, 00:00 | 36.2N 66.8W | 50 kt | 993 mb | Extratropical |
| May 20, 06:00 | 35.5N 66.0W | 50 kt | 997 mb | Extratropical |
| May 20, 12:00 | 34.6N 65.6W | 50 kt | 1002 mb | Extratropical |
| May 20, 18:00 | 33.7N 65.3W | 45 kt | 1006 mb | Extratropical |
| May 21, 00:00 | 32.8N 65.0W | 40 kt | 1008 mb | Extratropical |
Other North Atlantic storms of 2020
- Tropical Storm BerthaNorth Atlantic · 2020
- Tropical Storm CristobalNorth Atlantic · 2020 · 6 deaths · $310 million
- Tropical Storm DollyNorth Atlantic · 2020
- Tropical Storm EdouardNorth Atlantic · 2020
- Tropical Storm FayNorth Atlantic · 2020 · 2 deaths · $220 million
- Tropical Storm GonzaloNorth Atlantic · 2020
- Hurricane HannaNorth Atlantic · 2020 · 4 deaths · $1.1 billion
- Hurricane IsaiasNorth Atlantic · 2020 · 12 deaths · $5.0 billion
- Unnamed tropical depressionNorth Atlantic · 2020
- Tropical Storm JosephineNorth Atlantic · 2020
- Tropical Storm KyleNorth Atlantic · 2020
- Hurricane LauraNorth Atlantic · 2020 · 47 deaths · $19 billion
- Hurricane MarcoNorth Atlantic · 2020
- Tropical Storm OmarNorth Atlantic · 2020
- Hurricane NanaNorth Atlantic · 2020
- Tropical Storm ReneNorth Atlantic · 2020
- Hurricane PauletteNorth Atlantic · 2020 · 2 deaths
- Hurricane SallyNorth Atlantic · 2020 · 4 deaths · $7.3 billion
- Hurricane TeddyNorth Atlantic · 2020 · 2 deaths · $20 million
- Tropical Storm VickyNorth Atlantic · 2020
- Tropical Storm AlphaNorth Atlantic · 2020
- Tropical Storm WilfredNorth Atlantic · 2020
- Tropical Storm BetaNorth Atlantic · 2020 · $225 million
- Hurricane GammaNorth Atlantic · 2020 · 6 deaths
- Hurricane DeltaNorth Atlantic · 2020 · 2 deaths · $2.9 billion
- Hurricane EpsilonNorth Atlantic · 2020 · 1 death
- Hurricane ZetaNorth Atlantic · 2020 · 5 deaths · $4.4 billion
- Hurricane EtaNorth Atlantic · 2020 · 172 deaths · $1.5 billion
- Tropical Storm ThetaNorth Atlantic · 2020
- Hurricane IotaNorth Atlantic · 2020 · 67 deaths
What this means
A best track is the record a warning agency settles on after the storm, not what it said at the time: position, maximum sustained wind and central pressure every six hours, revised against every observation that came in later. Category is the Saffir-Simpson scale, which runs from Category 1 at 64 kt to Category 5 at 137 kt and reads wind only, so it says nothing about surge or rain. Accumulated cyclone energy adds up the square of the wind through the storm's life, so it counts strength and duration together.
Sources
Storm history from NOAA NCEI’s International Best Track Archive for Climate Stewardship (IBTrACS), which merges the official best track of every warning agency. Live storms, cones, watches and warnings from the National Hurricane Center and the Central Pacific Hurricane Center. Archived radar from NOAA’s Level II archive.