[Tropical] Hurricane Local Statement

[EMWIN Server]

WTUS81 KBOX 160323
HLSBOX
MAZ019-020>024-RIZ005-007-ANZ231>236-254-255-160900-

HURRICANE OPHELIA LOCAL STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAUNTON MA
1122 PM EDT THU SEP 15 2005

...TROPICAL STORM OPHELIA MAY AFFECT PORTIONS OF COASTAL SOUTHEAST
NEW ENGLAND LATE FRIDAY NIGHT INTO SATURDAY WITH TROPICAL STORM
FORCE CONDITIONS...

...AREAS AFFECTED...
THIS STATEMENT RECOMMENDS ACTIONS TO BE TAKEN BY RESIDENTS IN
COASTAL SECTIONS OF SOUTHEASTERN MASSACHUSETTS...INCLUDING
NANTUCKET...DUKES...BARNSTABLE AND PLYMOUTH COUNTIES AS WELL AS THE
SOUTHEAST COASTAL RHODE ISLAND COUNTIES OF NEWPORT AND BRISTOL.

...WATCHES AND WARNINGS...
THE TROPICAL STORM WATCH HAS BEEN EXPANDED WESTWARD TO NOW INCLUDE
THE ENTIRE COASTAL REGION FROM POINT JUDITH RHODE ISLAND TO
PLYMOUTH MASSACHUSETTS...WITH SPECIAL FOCUS ON CAPE COD...MARTHAS
VINEYARD AND NANTUCKET.

OPHELIA IS STILL EXPECTED PASS AROUND 50 MILES SOUTHEAST OF
NANTUCKET DURING SATURDAY MORNING. SUSTAINED WINDS IN EXCESS OF 39
MPH MAY SPREAD INTO THE WATCH AREA LATE FRIDAY NIGHT OR EARLY
SATURDAY MORNING.

...STORM INFORMATION...
AT 11 PM TROPICAL STORM OPHELIA WAS LOCATED NEAR LATITUDE 34.5 NORTH
AND LONGITUDE 74.8 WEST OR ABOUT 65 MILES SOUTHWEST OF CAPE HATTERAS
NORTH CAROLINA. OPHELIA WAS DRIFTING ERRATICALLY EAST...NEAR 5 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.  FURTHER
NORTHWEST ALONG BUZZARDS BAY AND COASTAL SOUTHEAST RHODE ISLAND
THERE IS SOMEWHAT LESSER CHANCE FOR A PERIOD OF TROPICAL STORM FORCE
CONDITIONS.

...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 SECTIONS OF
MASSACHUSETTS AND RHODE ISLAND. 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 EVENTUALLY NEED TO
BE ISSUED.

...NEXT UPDATE...
THIS STATEMENT WILL BE UPDATED NEXT AROUND 5 AM EDT FRIDAY.

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.

$$
DRAG












This weather bulletin was brought to you by:
www.nashvilleweather.net