[Tropical] Hurricane Local Statement

[EMWIN Server]

WTUS82 KMHX 120940
HLSMHX
AMZ158-NCZ095-098-104-121600-

HURRICANE OPHELIA LOCAL STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NEWPORT/MOREHEAD CITY NC
540 AM EDT MON SEP 12 2005

...OPHELIA DRIFTING WESTWARD...
 ...TROPICAL STORM WARNING IN EFFECT FOR CAPE LOOKOUT SOUTH...

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

...WATCHES/WARNINGS...
A TROPICAL STORM WARNING AND HURRICANE WATCH REMAIN IN EFFECT
FOR AREAS ON THE NORTH CAROLINA COAST FROM CAPE LOOKOUT SOUTH.

...STORM INFORMATION...
AT 5 AM EDT...THE CENTER OF HURRICANE OPHELIA WAS LOCATED NEAR
LATITUDE 31.3 NORTH...LONGITUDE 76.7 WEST OR ABOUT 220 MILES
EAST-SOUTHEAST OF CHARLESTON SOUTH CAROLINA AND ABOUT 280 MILES
SOUTH SOUTHWEST OF CAPE HATTERAS NORTH CAROLINA. OPHELIA IS MOVING
TOWARD THE WEST NEAR 3 MPH. A GRADUAL TURN TO THE NORTHWEST 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.  LITTLE
CHANGE IN STRENGTH IS EXPECTED DURING THE NEXT 24 HOURS.

...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 NIGHT AND WEDNESDAY. SURGES OF 4 TO 6
FEET ARE POSSIBLE IN DOWN EAST CARTERET COUNTY AND ALONG THE NEUSE
RIVER...AND 3 TO 5 FEET ABOVE NORMAL ALONG THE PAMLICO RIVER IN
BEAUFORT COUNTY TUESDAY AND CONTINUE INTO WEDNESDAY.

...WIND IMPACTS...
WINDS OFFSHORE WERE 20 TO 30 KNOTS AND SEAS WERE 8 TO 12 FEET. WINDS
AND SEAS WILL BEGIN BUILDING TOMORROW AS OPELIA MOVES CLOSER TO THE
COAST.  SMALL CRAFT SHOULD STAY IN PORT.

...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 BUILD TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY 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 NOON TODAY.

$$

TK




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