[Tropical] Hurricane Local Statement

[EMWIN Server]

WTUS82 KILM 101959
HLSILM
AMZ250-252-254-256-NCZ097-100-101-SCZ034-046-111600-

URGENT - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
HURRICANE OPHELIA LOCAL STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILMINGTON NC
355 PM EDT SAT SEP 10 2005

...OPHELIA WILL TURN TOWARD THE SOUTH CAROLINA COAST TONIGHT...

...WATCHES/WARNINGS...
A HURRICANE WATCH IS NOW IN EFFECT FOR THE COASTS OF NORTH AND
SOUTH CAROLINA FROM SOUTH SANTEE RIVER SOUTH CAROLINA TO SURF CITY
NORTH CAROLINA. A HURRICANE WATCH MEANS WINDS OF 74 MPH OR HIGHER
ARE POSSIBLE WITHIN 36 HOURS.

...AREAS AFFECTED...
THIS STATEMENT IS FOR RESIDENTS OF THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES IN
NORTHEAST SOUTH CAROLINA...GEORGETOWN...HORRY...AND IN SOUTHEAST
NORTH CAROLINA...BRUNSWICK...NEW HANOVER...PENDER.

...STORM INFORMATION...
AT 2 PM EDT THE CENTER OF HURRICANE OPHELIA WAS LOCATED NEAR
LATITUDE 31.7 NORTH...LONGITUDE 76.2 WEST...ABOUT OR 200 MILES
SOUTH-SOUTHEAST OF MYRTLE BEACH SOUTH CAROLINA.

OPHELIA HAS SLOWED DOWN AND IS NOW MOVING SLOWLY TOWARD THE
NORTHEAST. LITTLE CHANGE IS EXPECTED TODAY...AND A GRADUAL TURN TO
THE WEST-NORTHWEST IF FORECAST FOR TONIGHT.

THE LATEST MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE WAS 976 MB OR 28.82 INCHES.
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS HAVE INCREASED TO NEAR 80 MPH WITH HIGHER
GUSTS. OPHELIA IS A CATEGORY ONE HURRICANE ON THE SAFFIR-SIMPSON
SCALE. SOME SLIGHT STRENGTHENING IS POSSIBLE DURING THE NEXT 24
HOURS.

...WIND IMPACTS...
ALONG THE COAST...WINDS WERE GUSTING NEAR 30 KT THIS AFTERNOON.
TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS...WITH GUSTS TO 50 KT...ARE OCCURRING
OVER PORTIONS OF THE COASTAL WATERS. THESE WINDS ARE ASSOCIATED
WITH A TIGHT PRESSURE GRADIENT BETWEEN OPHELIA AND A HIGH PRESSURE
SYSTEM TO THE NORTHWEST. HURRICANE FORCE WINDS ARE FORECAST TO
DEVELOP OVER THE WATERS LATE SUNDAY.

BASED ON THE CURRENT FORECAST TRACK...TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS
ARE FORECAST TO SPREAD INLAND INTO NORTHEAST SOUTH CAROLINA AND
SOUTHEAST NORTH CAROLINA MONDAY. HURRICANE FORCE WINDS ARE
FORECAST TO REACH THE SOUTH CAROLINA COAST LATE MONDAY. WINDS 70
TO 80 MPH WITH GUSTS TO 100 MPH ARE EXPECTED ACROSS PORTIONS OF
COASTAL SOUTH CAROLINA.

...SEAS AND RIP CURRENTS...
SEAS REPORTED BY BUOYS ARE CURRENTLY RUNNING BETWEEN 10 AND 12
FT. SEAS WILL INCREASE TOWARD 20 FT AS OPHELIA MOVES CLOSER.
MARINERS ARE URGED TO REMAIN IN PORT.

SWIMMERS WILL BE SUBJECT TO STRONG LONG SHORE CURRENTS AND STRONG
RIP CURRENTS...AND ARE URGED TO STAY OUT OF THE WATER.

...STORM SURGE AND STORM TIDE IMPACTS...
BEACH EROSION AT WRIGHTSVILLE BEACH WAS REPORTED THIS AFTERNOON...
WITH A 3 FOOT DROP OFF ON THE BEACH.

WITH THE SUSTAINED NORTHEAST WIND...WATER LEVELS ON EAST FACING
BEACHES ARE ABOUT A FOOT HIGHER THAN NORMAL.

AT THE TIME OF HIGH TIDE EARLY THIS AFTERNOON...MINOR FLOODING WAS
REPORTED AT CAROLINA BEACH ALONG CANAL DRIVE. AT THE HIGH TIDE
TONIGHT AROUND MIDNIGHT...MINOR COASTAL FLOODING IS EXPECTED
AGAIN...AND THE WATER IS EXPECTED TO BE ABOUT A FOOT HIGHER ON THE
EARLY SUNDAY AFTERNOON HIGH TIDE.

BASED ON A CATEGORY 1 HURRICANE INTENSITY...STORM SURGE VALUES NEAR
THE EYE LANDFALL WILL BE NEAR 8 TO 10 FT...CAUSING MODERATE COASTAL
FLOODING.

...RAINFALL...
TOTAL RAINFALL AMOUNTS WILL RANGE FROM 3 TO 6 INCHES WITH THE
HEAVIEST RAINFALL EXPECTED MONDAY INTO TUESDAY. ALTHOUGH RIVERS
ARE LOW AND THE GROUND IS RELATIVELY DRY...EXTENSIVE PONDING OF
WATER IS EXPECTED. WIDESPREAD FLOODING IS NOT ANTICIPATED AT THIS
TIME.

...PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
EVERY HOUSEHOLD SHOULD HAVE A PLAN OF ACTION WHEN A HURRICANE OR
TROPICAL STORM THREATENS. WHEN MAKING YOUR PLAN...GIVE FULL
CONSIDERATION TO WHETHER YOU SHOULD LEAVE OR STAY IF A WARNING IS
ISSUED FOR YOUR LOCATION. RESIDENTS SHOULD FOLLOW THE ADVICE OF
LOCAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AND OTHER GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS. FOR THE
LATEST STORM INFORMATION VISIT WEATHER.GOV/ILM.



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