[Tropical] Hurricane Local Statement

[EMWIN Server]

WTUS82 KCHS 140652
HLSCHS
AMZ330-350-370-SCZ044-045-050-141030-

BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
HURRICANE HURRICANE LOCAL STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON SC
252 AM EDT WED SEP 14 2005

...HURRICANE OPHELIA DRIFTING NORTHWARD EARLY THIS MORNING...

...AREAS AFFECTED...
THIS STATEMENT IS FOR RESIDENTS OF BERKELEY...DORCHESTER AND
CHARLESTON COUNTIES AND ADJACENT COASTAL WATERS.

...WATCHES/WARNINGS...
A TROPICAL STORM WARNING AND A HURRICANE WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT
NORTH OF EDISTO BEACH TO THE SOUTH SANTEE RIVER.

...STORM INFORMATION...
AT 2 AM EDT...THE CENTER OF HURRICANE OPHELIA WAS LOCATED NEAR
LATITUDE 32.8 NORTH...LONGITUDE 77.9 WEST OR ABOUT 125 MILES EAST
OF CHARLESTON SOUTH CAROLINA. MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS WERE NEAR 75
MPH WITH HIGHER GUSTS. SOME INCREASE IN STRENGTH IS POSSIBLE
DURING THE NEXT 24 HOURS.

OPHELIA HAS BEEN DRIFTING NORTHWARD DURING THE PAST SEVERAL HOURS.
SINCE THE STEERING CURRENTS ARE STILL WEAK...SOME ERRATIC MOTION
IS STILL POSSIBLE.

...PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
PEOPLE ALONG AND NEAR THE SOUTH CAROLINA COAST NORTH OF EDISTO BEACH
SHOULD CONTINUE TO MONITOR THIS SLOW MOVING AND ERRATIC HURRICANE.
PEOPLE IN AND NEAR THE COASTAL COUNTIES SHOULD HEED THE ADVICE OF
LOCAL EMERGENCY OFFICIALS.

...WIND IMPACTS...
WINDS OVER THE SOUTH CAROLINA COASTAL WATERS WITHIN 40 NM OF THE
SOUTH CAROLINA COAST FROM EDISTO BEACH TO THE SOUTH SANTEE RIVER
SHOULD CONTINUE IN THE RANGE OF 30 TO 40 KNOTS WITH GUSTS UP TO 60
KNOTS FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE OVERNIGHT PERIOD. MARINERS SHOULD
REMAIN IN PORT.

WITHIN RAIN BANDS...WINDS IN BERKELEY AND CHARLESTON COUNTIES WILL
BE NORTHWEST AT 15 TO 25 MPH WITH GUSTS TO 40 MPH...ESPECIALLY
ALONG THE COAST. FURTHER INLAND AND OUTSIDE OF RAIN BANDS...WINDS
WILL BE LIGHTER.

...STORM SURGE FLOOD AND STORM TIDE IMPACTS...
NO SIGNIFICANT TIDE OR STORM SURGE IMPACTS ARE EXPECTED.

...SEAS AND RIP CURRENTS...
A HIGH RISK OF RIP CURRENTS WILL CONTINUE THROUGH TONIGHT.
DANGEROUS SURF CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED THROUGH TONIGHT AND
THEREFORE PEOPLE ARE URGED TO STAY OUT OF THE WATER. SEAS IN THE
COASTAL WATERS OUT TO 20 NM WILL BE IN THE TO 7 TO 12 FOOT RANGE
THROUGH TONIGHT. BEYOND 20 NM...SEAS WILL APPROACH 18 FT.

ADDITIONAL BEACH EROSION IS NOT EXPECTED AS WINDS HAVE BECOME NORTHWEST
AT MOST LOCATIONS.

...FLOOD IMPACTS...
BANDS OF HEAVY RAIN REMAIN TO THE NORTH AND EAST OF EASTERN
BERKELEY COUNTY AND THE NORTHEAST PORTION OF CHARLESTON COUNTY. IF
THESE BANDS HOLD TOGETHER...THEY COULD PRODUCE BRIEF PERIODS OF
HEAVY RAIN...MAINLY OVER THE FRANCIS MARION NATIONAL FOREST AND
THE MCCLELLANVILLE AREA. OTHERWISE...RAINFALL WILL BE LIGHT.

...NEXT UPDATE...
THE NEXT HURRICANE LOCAL STATEMENT WILL BE ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL
WEATHER SERVICE IN CHARLESTON BY 630 AM.

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.


$$

JH


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