Tropical Storm Ophelia made landfall Saturday morning in North Carolina with forecasters warning of “life-threatening storm surge inundation” over portions of North Carolina and Virginia. Image courtesy of National Hurricane Center
Tropical Storm Ophelia made landfall Saturday morning in North Carolina as heavy rains and strong winds lashed the East Coast, prompting warnings of dangerous storm surges.
As Ophelia made landfall at Emerald Isle, N.C., forecasters warned of “life-threatening storm surge inundation” over portions of North Carolina and Virginia. Advertisement
“Tropical storm conditions will continue along portions of the southeastern and mid-Atlantic coasts within the Tropical Storm Warning area today,” the National Hurricane Center said in its latest update, issued at 11 a.m. EDT.
The heavy rainfall could lead to flash flooding in parts along the Atlantic coast from North Carolina through New Jersey, with swells from the weather system lasting through the weekend.
11am September 23rd Key Messages for Tropical Storm #Ophelia.
Tropical storm conditions expected along parts of the southeastern & mid-Atlantic today. Life-threatening flash-flooding also anticipated for E North Carolina and SE Virginia. Advertisement
Latest: https://t.co/Dl4SklCoht pic.twitter.com/egsaKmL3DK— National Hurricane Center (@NHC_Atlantic) September 23, 2023
The system was elevated to a Tropical Storm Friday, leading forecasters to issue several warnings.
Tropical storm warnings are now in place for parts of North Carolina, Maryland, Virginia and New Jersey.
Flood watches have been issued for parts of North Carolina and Virginia with coastal flood warnings extending into Delaware and New Jersey, including Atlantic City. Up to 6 inches of rain could fall in the heaviest areas.
Sustained wind speeds are reaching up to 60 mph with gusts up to 70 mph in some areas. The storm was moving north at 13 mph as of the latest update from the National Hurricane Center.
Ophelia is the 16th named tropical weather system of the 2023 Atlantic hurricane season.
North Carolina is already dealing with flooding while more than 20,000 customers were without power as of 11 a.m. EDT Saturday. Gov. Roy Cooper declared a state of emergency across the state Saturday.
“We encourage people to pay close attention to the weather and take precautions,” he said a statement.
Several events were cancelled across North Carolina Saturday amid storm conditions. Advertisement
Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin also declared a state of emergency in that state.
The NFL warned that several of its Sunday games could be impacted by wet conditions brought on by the storm.
A tropical storm warning remains in effect for Cape Fear, N.C., to Fenwick Island, Del., as well as for Albemarle and Pamlico sounds in Maryland and the tidal Potomac south of Cobb Island. Additionally, Chesapeake Bay south of North Beach is under a tropical storm warning.
A storm surge warning is in effect for Beaufort Inlet, N.C., to Chincoteague, Va., as well as Chesapeake Bay south of Colonial Beach, Va., and the Neuse and Pamlico rivers.
Storm surge watches were also posted for Surf City, N.C., to Beaufort Inlet, N.C.
Forecasters said Ophelia’s current north-northwest track will continue through the weekend, before the storm system takes a slight turn northward.
The combination of a dangerous storm surge and the tide will cause normally dry areas near the coast to be flooded by rising waters moving inland from the shoreline.
