...Ophelia nearing hurricane strength as it moves closer to the Carolina coasts... ...Warnings and watches extended northward to Virginia...
at 5 PM EDT...2100z...the Hurricane Warning has been extended northward to Cape Hatteras. A Hurricane Warning is now in effect from the South Santee River South Carolina to Cape Hatteras North Carolina. A Hurricane Warning means that hurricane conditions are expected in the warning area within the next 24 hours.
At 5 PM EDT...a Hurricane Watch and a Tropical Storm Warning are now in effect north of Cape Hatteras to the North Carolina/Virginia border...including the Pamlico and Albemarle sounds.
A Hurricane Watch and a Tropical Storm Warning remain in effect from south of the South Santee River to Edisto Beach South Carolina.
At 5 PM EDT...a tropical storm watch is in effect from north of the North Carolina/Virginia border to Cape Charles Light Virginia... including the Chesapeake Bay south of New Point Comfort.
A Hurricane Watch means that hurricane conditions are possible in the watch area within the next 36 hr. A Tropical Storm Warning means that tropical storm conditions are expected in the warning area within the next 24 hours.
For storm information specific to your area...including possible inland watches and warnings...please monitor products issued by your local weather office.
At 5 PM EDT...2100z...data from an Air Force Reserve unit reconnaissance aircraft and NOAA coastal Doppler radars indicate the center of Tropical Storm Ophelia was located near latitude 32.6 north... longitude 78.1 west or about 110 miles east of Charleston South Carolina and about 110 miles south of Wilmington North Carolina.
Ophelia is moving slowly toward the north-northwest near 4 mph and this general motion is forecast to continue tonight. A gradual turn toward the north is expected by Wednesday. However... steering currents remain weak...so some erratic motion will be possible.
Maximum sustained winds are near 70 mph...with higher gusts... and Ophelia is just below hurricane intensity. Some slow strengthening is forecast during the next 24 hours... and Ophelia could become a hurricane again later tonight or on Wednesday.
Tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 160 miles from the center. Ophelia's strongest winds are located relatively far from the center...roughly 50 to 60 miles...and these winds will reach the coastline well in advance of the center. During the past hour... NOAA buoy 41004 located east-southeast of Charleston reported sustained winds of 50 mph with a gust to 65 mph...while NOAA buoy 41013 located south-southeast of Cape Fear reported sustained winds of 47 mph with a gust to 58 mph.
The minimum central pressure recently reported by reconnaissance aircraft has remained steady at 989 mb...29.21 inches.
Storm surge flooding of 5 to 7 feet above normal tide levels...along with large and dangerous battering waves...are possible in areas of onshore winds in association with Ophelia. A storm surge of 8 to 10 feet is possible at the heads of bays and rivers.
Ophelia is expected to produce total rainfall accumulations of 6 to 10 inches over far northeastern South Carolina and eastern North Carolina...with possible isolated maximum rainfall amounts of 15 inches over eastern North Carolina.
Isolated tornadoes are possible along the coastal areas of North Carolina tonight and Wednesday.
Repeating the 5 PM EDT position...32.6 N... 78.1 W. Movement toward...north-northwest near 4 mph. Maximum sustained winds... 70 mph. Minimum central pressure... 989 mb.
An intermediate advisory will be issued by the National Hurricane Center at 8 PM EDT followed by the next complete advisory at 11 PM EDT.
Forecaster Stewart
MKM