[Tropical] Hurricane Local Statement

[EMWIN Server]

WTUS82 KCHS 101609
HLSCHS
AMZ350-352-SCZ043>045-047>051-102100-

BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
HURRICANE OPHELIA LOCAL STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON SC
1209 PM EDT SAT SEP 10 2005

...HURRICANE WATCH IN EFFECT FOR THE SOUTH CAROLINA COAST...

HURRICANE OPHELIA IS EXPECTED TO TURN WEST AND IMPACT THE SOUTH
CAROLINA COAST BEGINNING SUNDAY NIGHT AND CONTINUING THROUGH MONDAY.

...AREAS AFFECTED...
THIS STATEMENT RECOMMENDS SPECIFIC ACTIONS BE TAKEN BY RESIDENTS
AND VISITORS OF SOUTHEAST SOUTH CAROLINA..INCLUDING THE ADJACENT
COASTAL WATERS.

...WATCHES/WARNINGS...
...HURRICANE WATCH IN EFFECT FROM THE SAVANNAH RIVER NORTH TO THE
SOUTH SANTEE RIVER...

...STORM INFORMATION...
AT 11 AM EDT...1500Z...THE CENTER OF HURRICANE OPHELIA WAS LOCATED
NEAR LATITUDE 31.6 NORTH...LONGITUDE  76.5 WEST OR ABOUT 220 MILES
EAST-SOUTHEAST OF CHARLESTON SOUTH CAROLINA AND ABOUT 255 MILES
SOUTH-SOUTHWEST OF CAPE HATTERAS NORTH CAROLINA. MAXIMUM SUSTAINED
WINDS WERE NEAR 80 MPH WITH SLOW STRENGTHENING EXPECTED. THE
STORM IS EXPECTED TO TURN WEST AND MOVE TOWARD THE SOUTH CAROLINA COAST.

...PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
RESIDENTS OF THE SOUTH CAROLINA COAST SHOULD BEGIN TO MAKE
PREPARATIONS FOR HURRICANE CONDITIONS AND HEED THE ADVICE OF LOCAL
EMERGENCY OFFICIALS. SECURE LOOSE OBJECTS OR BRING THEM INSIDE.

...STORM SURGE FLOOD AND STORM TIDE IMPACTS...
A STORM SURGE OF 3 TO 5 FEET IS POSSIBLE NORTH OF
CHARLESTON MONDAY NIGHT WITH ONLY 1 TO 2 FEET EXPECTED SOUTH OF
CHARLESTON. THIS WILL GIVE ESTIMATED STORM TIDE READINGS AT THE
FOLLOWING LOCATIONS ON EARLY TUESDAY MORNING BETWEEN 200 AND 300 AM:

U.S. HIGHWAY 17 BRIDGE 		9 FEET
BULLS BAY NEAR MCCLELLANVILLE 	8.5 FEET
CHARLESTON HARBOR 		7.5 FEET
FRIPP INLET BRIDGE 		6.5 FEET

...WIND IMPACTS...
HURRICANE FORCE WINDS WILL APPROACH THE COAST LATE MONDAY AND THEN
IMPACT THE COAST ON MONDAY NIGHT. WINDS OF 90 MPH WITH GUSTS TO
105 MPH ARE EXPECTED WHERE THE STORM MAKES LANDFALL.

...FLOOD IMPACTS...
DUE TO THE DRY AIR IN PLACE ACROSS SOUTH CAROLINA...RAINFALL
AMOUNTS MAY BE LIGHTER THAN MOST HURRICANES. HOWEVER...WHERE THE
STORM MAKES LANDFALL 3 TO 5 INCHES OF RAIN ARE POSSIBLE WITH
LESSER AMOUNTS FURTHER FROM THE STORM CENTER.

...TORNADOES...
ISOLATED TORNADOES ARE POSSIBLE NORTH OF WHERE THE STORM CENTER
MOVES ASHORE. THIS IS MOST LIKELY NEAR AND TO THE NORTH OF
CHARLESTON.

...INLAND WIND IMPACTS...
BASED ON THE CURRENT TRACK...INLAND HURRICANE FORCE WINDS ARE MOST
LIKELY IN BERKELEY COUNTY. HOWEVER...IF THE TRACK SHIFTS SOUTHWARD
OTHER COUNTIES MAY EXPERIENCE HURRICANE FORCE WINDS.

...SEAS AND RIP CURRENTS...
A HIGH RISK OF RIP CURRENTS WILL CONTINUE THROUGH THE WEEKEND WITH
EXTREMELY DANGEROUS SURF CONDITIONS EXPECTED ON MONDAY. SEAS IN
THE COASTAL WATERS OFF THE COAST WILL INCREASE TO 14 TO 18 FEET
NEAR THE CENTER OF THE STORM SUNDAY NIGHT AND MONDAY MORNING.

STRONG WINDS OVER THE LAST WEEK ALONG THE COAST HAVE CAUSED SOME
BEACH EROSION ALREADY. THE STRONG WINDS FROM OPHELIA WILL CAUSE
ADDITIONAL EROSION. HOWEVER...SINCE THE WINDS ARE EXPECTED TO
MAINLY BE OFFSHORE...THE BEACH EROSION SHOULD BE MINOR TO MODERATE.

...NEXT UPDATE...
THE NEXT HURRICANE LOCAL STATEMENT WILL BE ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL
WEATHER SERVICE IN CHARLESTON AROUND 3 PM OR SOONER IF CONDITIONS
WARRANT.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON OPHELIA CAN BE FOUND IN ADVISORIES ISSUED
BY THE NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER...AS WELL AS PUBLIC INFORMATION
STATEMENTS AND SHORT TERM FORECASTS ISSUED BY THIS OFFICE.

$$

SCW




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