Hurricane OPHELIA

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TROPICAL STORM OPHELIA INTERMEDIATE ADVISORY NUMBER  39A
NWS TPC/NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL
8 PM EDT THU SEP 15 2005

...OPHELIA WEAKENS TO A TROPICAL STORM WHILE MOVING ERRATICALLY
EASTWARD...
 
A TROPICAL STORM WARNING IS IN EFFECT FROM CAPE LOOKOUT NORTH
CAROLINA NORTHWARD TO CAPE CHARLES LIGHT VIRGINIA...INCLUDING THE
PAMLICO AND ALBEMARLE SOUNDS...AND THE CHESAPEAKE BAY SOUTH OF NEW
POINT COMFORT.
 
A TROPICAL STORM WARNING MEANS THAT TROPICAL STORM CONDITIONS ARE
EXPECTED IN THE WARNING AREA WITHIN THE NEXT 24 HOURS.
 
A TROPICAL STORM WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR SOUTHEASTERN MASSACHUSETTS
FROM WOODS HOLE NORTHWARD TO CAPE COD AND PLYMOUTH...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 8 PM EDT...0000Z...THE CENTER OF TROPICAL STORM OPHELIA WAS
LOCATED NEAR LATITUDE 34.6 NORTH... LONGITUDE 75.1 WEST OR ABOUT 45
MILES SOUTH-SOUTHEAST OF CAPE HATTERAS NORTH CAROLINA.

OPHELIA HAS BEEN MOVING ERRATICALLY TOWARD THE EAST NEAR 5 MPH...AND
AN EAST-NORTHEASTWARD TO NORTHEASTWARD MOTION IS EXPECTED OVER THE
NEXT 24 HOURS.  HOWEVER SINCE STEERING CURRENTS ARE WEAK...SOME
ERRATIC MOTION MAY OCCUR TONIGHT AND FRIDAY.
 
REPORTS FROM AN AIR FORCE HURRICANE HUNTER PLANE AND WSR-88D DOPPLER
RADAR INDICATE THAT THE MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS HAVE DECREASED TO
NEAR 70 MPH...WITH HIGHER GUSTS.  SOME ADDITIONAL WEAKENING IS
POSSIBLE DURING THE NEXT 24 HOURS.

TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 140 MILES FROM THE
CENTER.

THE MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE RECENTLY REPORTED BY RECONNAISSANCE
AIRCRAFT WAS  987 MB...29.15 INCHES.
 
MAXIMUM COASTAL STORM SURGE FLOODING OF 2 TO 4 FEET ABOVE NORMAL
TIDE LEVELS...ALONG WITH LARGE AND DANGEROUS BATTERING WAVES...CAN
BE EXPECTED IN AREAS OF ONSHORE WINDS.  A STORM SURGE OF 6 TO 8
FEET IS POSSIBLE AT THE HEADS OF BAYS AND RIVERS.
 
OPHELIA MAY PRODUCE ADDITIONAL RAINFALL ACCUMULATIONS OF 2 INCHES
OVER PORTIONS OF NORTH CAROLINA OUTER BANKS DURING THE NEXT 24
HOURS.
 
REPEATING THE 8 PM EDT POSITION...34.6 N... 75.1 W.  MOVEMENT
TOWARD...EAST NEAR  5 MPH.  MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS... 70 MPH. 
MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE... 987 MB.
 
THE NEXT ADVISORY WILL BE ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER AT
11 PM EDT.
 
FORECASTER PASCH
 
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