[Tropical] Hurricane Local Statement

[EMWIN Server]

WTUS82 KMHX 112339
HLSMHX
AMZ158-NCZ095-098-104-120400-

HURRICANE OPHELIA LOCAL STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NEWPORT/MOREHEAD CITY NC
540 PM EDT SUN SEP 11 2005

...OPHELIA REMAINS NEARLY STATIONARY...
...TROPICAL STORM WARNING ISSUED FOR PARTS OF EASTERN NORTH
CAROLINA...

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

...WATCHES/WARNINGS...
A TROPICAL STORM WARNING HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR AREAS ON THE NORTH
CAROLINA COAST FROM CAPE LOOKOUT SOUTH. A HURRICANE WATCH HAS BEEN
POSTED ON THE NORTH CAROLINA COAST FROM CAPE LOOKOUT SOUTH.

...STORM INFORMATION...
AT 5 PM EDT...THE CENTER OF HURRICANE OPHELIA WAS LOCATED NEAR
LATITUDE 31.5 NORTH...LONGITUDE 76.0 WEST OR ABOUT 250 MILES
EAST-SOUTHEAST OF CHARLESTON SOUTH CAROLINA AND ABOUT 255 MILES
SOUTH OF CAPE HATTERAS NORTH CAROLINA. OPHELIA IS NEARLY STATIONARY.
A SLOW WEST-NORTHWESTWARD MOTION IS EXPECTED OVER THE NEXT 24 HOURS.

MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS ARE NEAR 75 MPH...WITH HIGHER GUSTS. OPHELIA
IS A CATEGORY ONE HURRICANE ON THE SAFFIR-SIMPSON SCALE. NO
SIGNIFICANT CHANGE IN STRENGTH IS EXPECTED TONIGHT AND MONDAY.

...PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
THERE IS A MANDATORY EVACUATION FOR ALL NON-RESIDENTS ON OCRACOKE.
PEOPLE IN THE WATCH AREA SHOULD CONTINUE PREPARATIONS TODAY 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
WEST OF CAPE LOOKOUT TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY. SURGES OF 4 TO 6 FEET
ARE POSSIBLE IN DOWN EAST CARTERET COUNTY AND ALONG THE NEUSE AND
PAMLICO RIVERS...MAINLY ON WEDNESDAY.

...WIND IMPACTS...
WINDS ARE 25 TO 35 KNOTS SOUTH OF CAPE LOOKOUT WITH SEAS OF 8 TO 12
FEET. SEAS OFF OF CAPE HATTERAS WERE RUNNING 10 TO 15 FEET.  SMALL
CRAFT SHOULD STAY IN PORT. WINDS AND SEAS WILL INCREASE AS OPHELIA
MOVES CLOSER TO THE COAST.

...FLOODING IMPACTS...
HEAVY RAINS WILL BEGIN ALONG THE COAST AS OPHELIA MOVES A LITTLE
CLOSER ON TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY. RAINFALL AMOUNTS OF 5 TO 7 INCHES
WILL BE POSSIBLE THROUGH WEDNESDAY. THE HEAVY RAINS WILL BRING THE
POTENTIAL FOR LOCALIZED FLOODING OF LOW LYING AREAS.

...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 CONTINUE TO BUILD MONDAY AND TUESDAY AS OPHELIA
APPROACHES. BREAKING WAVES OF 8 TO 10 FEET WILL BE POSSIBLE
PRODUCING MODERATE BEACH EROSION.

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

$$

CGG







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