[Tropical] Hurricane Local Statement

[EMWIN Server]

WTUS81 KBOX 152149 CCA
HLSBOX
MAZ019-022>024-ANZ231>234-254-255-160400-

HURRICANE OPHELIA LOCAL STATEMENT...CORRECTED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAUNTON MA
545 PM EDT THU SEP 15 2005

...TROPICAL STORM OPHELIA MAY AFFECT CAPE COD AND THE ISLANDS LATE
FRIDAY NIGHT INTO SATURDAY...

...AREAS AFFECTED...
THIS STATEMENT RECOMMENDS ACTIONS TO BE TAKEN BY RESIDENTS IN
SOUTHEASTERN MASSACHUSETTS...INCLUDING NANTUCKET...DUKES...
BARNSTABLE AND PLYMOUTH COUNTIES.

...WATCHES AND WARNINGS...
A TROPICAL STORM WATCH HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR THE SOUTHEAST
MASSACHUSETTS COAST FROM WOODS HOLE TO PLYMOUTH.  THIS INCLUDES CAPE
COD...MARTHAS VINEYARD AND NANTUCKET.

OPHELIA IS EXPECTED TO WEAKEN TO A TROPICAL STORM AND PASS AROUND 50
MILES SOUTHEAST OF NANTUCKET DURING SATURDAY MORNING. ON THIS
TRACK...TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS IN EXCESS OF 39 MPH MAY SPREAD
INTO THE WATCH AREA LATE FRIDAY NIGHT OR EARLY SATURDAY MORNING.

...STORM INFORMATION...
AT 5 PM HURRICANE OPHELIA WAS LOCATED NEAR LATITUDE 34.8 NORTH AND
LONGITUDE 75.6 WEST OR ABOUT 30 MILES SOUTH-SOUTHWEST OF CAPE
HATTERAS NORTH CAROLINA. OPHELIA WAS DRIFTING TOWARD THE
EAST-NORTHEAST NEAR 3 MPH.

..PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
PEOPLE LIVING ON OR WITH PROPERTY ON CAPE COD...MARTHAS VINEYARD OR
NANTUCKET SHOULD PREPARE FOR A STORM THAT MAY BE COMPARABLE TO A
POWERFUL NOREASTER.

BOAT OWNERS SHOULD COORDINATE WITH MARINA OPERATORS AND TAKE
NECESSARY ACTIONS TO SECURE THEIR VESSELS...UNLESS ARRANGEMENTS HAVE
BEEN MADE TO PULL THEIR BOATS OUT OF THE WATER. REMOVE ANY
NON-ESSENTIAL ITEMS AND HAVE PICTURES AND A WRITTEN DESCRIPTION OF
THE VESSEL FOR INSURANCE PURPOSES. MARINERS SHOULD REMAIN IN PORT
UNTIL THE TROPICAL STORM THREAT PASSES.

COASTAL RESIDENTS SHOULD BE READY TO TAKE IN ANY OUTDOOR ITEMS THAT
LIE CLOSE TO THE WATER OR CAN BE BLOWN ABOUT. SOME COASTAL FLOODING
IS POSSIBLE AS THE STORM PASSES SATURDAY MORNING.

EVERYONE MUST REMAIN CLEAR OF BEACHES. SWELLS WILL BEGIN TO INCREASE
DURING FRIDAY. HIGH SURF FROM THESE SWELLS CAN CREATE DEADLY RIP
CURRENTS WHICH POSE A DANGER TO EVEN THE MOST SKILLED SWIMMER.

...WIND IMPACTS...
TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS MAY SPREAD ACROSS NANTUCKET...MARTHAS
VINEYARD AND CAPE COD LATE FRIDAY NIGHT OR EARLY SATURDAY MORNING.
NORTHEAST WINDS 30 TO 50 MPH WITH GUSTS BETWEEN 60 AND 70 MPH ARE
POSSIBLE ACROSS THE CAPE AND ISLANDS WITH THIS STORM.  JUST HOW
STRONG THE WINDS REACH DEPENDS UPON THE EVENTUAL TRACK OF OPHELIA.
SUCH WINDS WOULD BE STRONG ENOUGH TO CAUSE DAMAGE TO TREES AND POWER
LINES...AND WELL AS BLOW ABOUT UNSECURED LIGHT OBJECTS.

...STORM SURGE FLOOD AND STORM TIDE IMPACTS...
THE STORM SURGE WILL DEPEND UPON THE PRECISE INTENSITY AND TRACK OF
THE TROPICAL STORM. EARLY ESTIMATES SUGGEST THAT A 1 TO 3 FOOT STORM
SURGE MAY OCCUR ON TOP OF THE EXPECTED ASTRONOMICAL TIDE DURING
SATURDAY MORNING. THIS COULD CAUSE MINOR TO MODERATE COASTAL
FLOODING ALONG EAST AND NORTHEAST FACING SHORELINES...IF THE
STRONGEST NORTHEAST WINDS SHOULD COINCIDE WITH THE SATURDAY MORNING
HIGH TIDE.

...RIVER AND SMALL STREAM FLOOD IMPACTS...
RAINFALL OF 3 TO 5 INCHES WITH LOCALLY HIGHER AMOUNTS MAY FALL
FRIDAY NIGHT INTO SATURDAY ACROSS FAR SOUTHEAST MASSACHUSETTS.
SIGNIFICANT STREET FLOODING MAY OCCUR. IN ADDITION THE HEAVY RAIN
MAY ALSO CAUSE A FEW SMALL STREAMS TO OVERFLOW THEIR BANKS...AND
FLOOD WATCHES MAY NEED TO BE ISSUED LATER.

MANY LOCATIONS HAVE HAD DRY SOIL CONDITIONS...AND SERIOUS MAINSTEM
RIVER FLOODING IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

...NEXT UPDATE...
THIS STATEMENT WILL BE UPDATED NEXT AROUND 11 PM EDT.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON PREPAREDNESS MEASURES FOR BOTH COASTAL AND
INLAND RESIDENTS IS CONTAINED IN SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENTS
/BOSSPSBOX/ THAT WILL BE ISSUED DURING THIS STORM THREAT.

$$

THOMPSON










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