...Ophelia continuing to meander off the Florida coast...
a Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for the East Coast of Florida from Sebastian Inlet northward to Flagler Beach. A Tropical Storm Warning means that tropical storm conditions are expected within the warning area within the next 24 hours.
A tropical storm watch is in effect for the northeast Florida coast from north of Flagler Beach to Fernandina Beach. A tropical storm watch means that tropical storm conditions are possible within the watch area within the next 36 hours.
Interests elsewhere in northern and central Florida...and the southeastern United States coast...should monitor the progress of Ophelia.
For storm information specific to your area...including possible inland watches and warnings...please monitor products issued by your local weather office.
At 11 PM EDT...0300z...the center of Hurricane Ophelia was located near latitude 28.7 north...longitude 79.3 west or about 80 miles... 130 km...east-northeast of Cape Canaveral Florida.
Ophelia is nearly stationary. A northeastward drift is expected on Friday.
Maximum sustained winds are near 75 mph...120 km/hr...with higher gusts. Ophelia is a category one hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson scale. Slow strengthening is forecast during the next 24 hours.
Hurricane force winds extend outward up to 25 miles... 35 km... from the center...and tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 80 miles...130 km.
Estimated minimum central pressure is 990 mb...29.23 inches.
Ophelia is expected to produce total rainfall accumulations of 1 to 3 inches across portions of central and northern Florida.
Repeating the 11 PM EDT position...28.7 N... 79.3 W. Movement ...Stationary. Maximum sustained winds... 75 mph. Minimum central pressure... 990 mb.
An intermediate advisory will be issued by the National Hurricane Center at 2 am EDT followed by the next complete advisory at 5 am EDT.
Forecaster Beven
Probably the best thing that could happen is for the storm to strike land now as a small hurricane and get it over with.
But that's not even a possibility. It's just going to threaten the coast and camp out there for awhile.
Bastardi (sp?) just commented on FNC about a hit on the east coast possibly as far north as hatteras.......but he kept saying they have their work cut out for them watching it, (because they don't know)