Hurricane OPHELIA

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TROPICAL STORM OPHELIA ADVISORY NUMBER  40
NWS TPC/NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL
11 PM EDT THU SEP 15 2005

...WEAKENED OPHELIA MOVING ERRATICALLY EASTWARD OFF THE NORTH
CAROLINA OUTER BANKS...

AT 11 PM EDT...0300Z...ALL TROPICAL STORM WARNINGS NORTH OF THE
NORTH CAROLINA/VIRGINIA BORDER ARE DISCONTINUED.  A TROPICAL STORM
WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM CAPE LOOKOUT NORTH CAROLINA
NORTHWARD TO THE NORTH CAROLINA/VIRGINIA BORDER...INCLUDING THE
PAMLICO AND ALBEMARLE SOUNDS.
 
A TROPICAL STORM WARNING MEANS THAT TROPICAL STORM CONDITIONS ARE
EXPECTED IN THE WARNING AREA WITHIN THE NEXT 24 HOURS.
 
AT 11 PM EDT...0300Z...THE TROPICAL STORM WATCH IS EXTENDED WEST OF
WOODS HOLE MASSACHUSETTS TO POINT JUDITH RHODE ISLAND.  A TROPICAL
STORM WATCH IS NOW IN EFFECT FROM POINT JUDITH RHODE ISLAND
EASTWARD AND NORTHWARD TO CAPE COD AND PLYMOUTH MASSACHUSETTS...
INCLUDING MARTHA'S VINEYARD AND NANTUCKET ISLANDS.
 
A TROPICAL STORM WATCH MEANS THAT TROPICAL STORM CONDITIONS ARE
POSSIBLE WITHIN THE WATCH AREA...GENERALLY WITHIN 36 HOURS.
 
FOR STORM INFORMATION SPECIFIC TO YOUR AREA...INCLUDING POSSIBLE
INLAND WATCHES AND WARNINGS...PLEASE MONITOR PRODUCTS ISSUED
BY YOUR LOCAL WEATHER OFFICE.
 
AT 11 PM EDT...0300Z...THE CENTER OF TROPICAL STORM OPHELIA WAS
LOCATED NEAR LATITUDE 34.5 NORTH... LONGITUDE 74.8 WEST OR ABOUT 65
MILES SOUTHEAST OF CAPE HATTERAS NORTH CAROLINA.
 
OPHELIA HAS BEEN MOVING ERRATICALLY EASTWARD NEAR 5 MPH.  AN
EAST-NORTHEASTWARD TO NORTHEASTWARD MOTION IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ON
FRIDAY.  STEERING CURRENTS REMAIN WEAK HOWEVER...AND SOME ERRATIC
MOTION IS POSSIBLE OVER THE NEXT 24 HOURS.

MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS ARE NEAR  70 MPH...WITH HIGHER GUSTS.  SLOW
WEAKENING IS FORECAST DURING THE NEXT 24 HOURS.
 
TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 140 MILES FROM THE
CENTER...MAINLY TO THE EAST AND SOUTHEAST.  WITHIN THE PAST HOUR
THE DIAMOND SHOALS BUOY...LOCATED ABOUT 15 MILES SOUTH-SOUTHEAST OF
CAPE HATTERAS...REPORTED A WIND GUST TO 54 MPH.
 
ESTIMATED MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE IS  988 MB...29.18 INCHES.
 
MAXIMUM COASTAL STORM SURGE FLOODING OF 2 TO 4 FEET ABOVE NORMAL
TIDE LEVELS...ALONG WITH LARGE AND DANGEROUS BATTERING WAVES...IS
POSSIBLE IN AREAS OF ONSHORE WINDS.  A STORM SURGE OF 6 TO 8
FEET IS POSSIBLE AT THE HEADS OF BAYS AND RIVERS.  STORM SURGE
FLOODING SHOULD SUBSIDE ON FRIDAY.
 
OPHELIA WILL LIKELY PRODUCE ADDITIONAL RAINFALL ACCUMULATIONS OF
LESS THAN AN INCH ACROSS FAR EASTERN NORTH CAROLINA AND
SOUTHEASTERN VIRGINIA OVER THE NEXT 24 HOURS.

REPEATING THE 11 PM EDT POSITION...34.5 N... 74.8 W.  MOVEMENT
TOWARD...EAST NEAR  5 MPH.  MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS... 70 MPH. 
MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE... 988 MB.
 
AN INTERMEDIATE ADVISORY WILL BE ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL HURRICANE
CENTER AT 2 AM EDT FOLLOWED BY THE NEXT COMPLETE ADVISORY AT 5 AM
EDT.
 
FORECASTER PASCH
 
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