Tropical Storm Arthur was the first named storm of the 2008 Atlantic hurricane season. Arthur developed offshore the coast of Belize on May 31, and quickly moved onshore. Arthur was the first May tropical storm in the Atlantic since Tropical Storm Arlene in 1981. In addition, Arthur made 2008 the second consecutive year in which a named storm developed in May. Arthur caused 9 fatalities, 5 direct, and caused $78,000,000 (2008 USD) in damage.