Tropical Storm Arthur intensifies as it moves north

MIAMI, July 2 (UPI) -- Tropical Storm Arthur got stronger and faster as it moved north in the Atlantic, packing winds up to 60 mph Wednesday morning.

The National Hurricane Center in Miami posted a hurricane watch for much of the Outer Banks of North Carolina and Pamlico Sound. Forecasters predicted Arthur would strengthen into a hurricane by Thursday, the first of the 2014 Atlantic season.

The storm is expected to hit the Outer Banks on Friday, disrupting the three-day July 4th weekend. Coastal areas in the mid-Atlantic and New England regions could get drenching rains later in the weekend.

At 8 a.m. Wednesday, Arthur's center was 100 miles east-northeast of Cape Canaveral in Florida and 275 miles south of Charleston, S.C. The storm was moving north at 6 mph, three times its speed 24 hours earlier.

Tropical storm watches were in effect for the east coast of northern Florida, the South Carolina coast and those parts of coastal North Carolina not under hurricane watch.

Forecasters predicted 1 to 2 inches of rain with possible totals of 4 inches in some areas and warned of heavy surf and rip currents.