[Tropical] Hurricane Local Statement

[EMWIN Server]

WTUS82 KMHX 102159
HLSMHX
AMZ158-NCZ095-098-110400-

HURRICANE OPHELIA LOCAL STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NEWPORT/MOREHEAD CITY NC
600 PM EDT SAT SEP 10 2005

...HURRICANE OPHELIA MOVING LITTLE...

...AREAS AFFECTED...
THIS STATEMENT IS FOR RESIDENTS OF THE FOLLOWING AREAS: CARTERET AND
ONSLOW COUNTIES...AND OCRACOKE.

...WATCHES/WARNINGS...
A HURRICANE WATCH HAS BEEN POSTED ON THE NORTH CAROLINA COAST
FROM CAPE LOOKOUT SOUTH. THERE IS A POTENTIAL FOR HURRICANE FORCE
WINDS IN EASTERN NORTH CAROLINA LATE MONDAY NIGHT OR EARLY TUESDAY
MORNING.

...STORM INFORMATION...
AT 5 PM EDT...THE CENTER OF HURRICANE OPHELIA WAS LOCATED NEAR
LATITUDE 31.8 NORTH...LONGITUDE 76.2 WEST OR ABOUT 200 MILES SOUTH
SOUTH-EAST OF CAPE LOOKOUT NORTH CAROLINA. OPHELIA MOVED VERY SLOWLY
NORTH ON SATURDAY AFTERNOON...ONLY AROUND 2 MPH.  OPHELIA IS
EXPECTED TO MOVE LITTLE TONIGHT OR SUNDAY. MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS
ARE NEAR 80 MPH.  LITTLE CHANGE IN STRENGTH IS EXPECTED OVER THE
NEXT 24 HOURS. OPHELIA IS A CATEGORY ONE HURRICANE ON THE
SAFFIR-SIMPSON SCALE.

...PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
THERE IS A MANDATORY EVACUATION FOR ALL NON-RESIDENTS ON OCRACOKE.
PEOPLE IN THE WATCH AREA SHOULD BEGIN PREPARATIONS NOW. IT IS
ESSENTIAL THAT YOU KEEP INFORMED ABOUT THE PROGRESS OF HURRICANE
OPHELIA AND TAKE THE NECESSARY PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS TO MINIMIZE
PROPERTY LOSSES AND PERSONAL RISK.

...STORM SURGE FLOOD AND STORM TIDE IMPACTS...
STORM SURGE FROM OPHELIA COULD REACH 3 TO 5 FEET ALONG THE COAST
SOUTH OF CAPE LOOKOUT LATE MONDAY NIGHT OR TUESDAY. SURGES OF 5 TO 7
FEET ARE POSSIBLE IN DOWN EAST CARTERET COUNTY AND ALONG THE NEUSE
RIVER.

...WIND IMPACTS...
WINDS ARE RUNNING 25 TO 30 KNOTS SOUTH OF CAPE LOOKOUT AND SEAS WERE
8 TO 12 FEET. SMALL CRAFT SHOULD STAY IN PORT.  WINDS AND SEAS WILL
INCREASE LATE IN THE WEEKEND AS OPHELIA MOVES CLOSER TO THE COAST.

...FLOODING IMPACTS...
HEAVY RAINS WILL BEGIN ALONG THE COAST AS OPHELIA MOVES A LITTLE
CLOSER ON SUNDAY AND SUNDAY NIGHT...AND SPREAD INLAND ON MONDAY AND
TUESDAY. RAINFALL AMOUNTS OF 4 TO 6 INCHES WILL BE POSSIBLE THROUGH
MONDAY. LOCALIZED FLOODING OF LOW LYING AREAS WILL BE POSSIBLE.

...RIP CURRENT IMPACTS...
THERE IS A HIGH THREAT OF RIP CURRENTS ALONG AREA BEACHES DUE TO
A LONG PERIOD SWELL FROM OPHELIA.

...HIGH SURF/BEACH EROSION IMPACTS...
SURF WILL BEGIN TO BUILD SUNDAY NIGHT AS OPHELIA APPROACHES.
BREAKING WAVES OF 8 TO 10 FEET WILL BE POSSIBLE PRODUCING MODERATE
BEACH EROSION.

...NEXT UPDATE...
THE NEXT UPDATE WILL BE AT MIDNIGHT TONIGHT.

$$

TK








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