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Ophelia Weakens as Storm Subsides
Written by
Kelly Taaffe
, Special to RedCross.org
Friday, September 16, 2005 — Category 1 Hurricane Ophelia has now weakened to a tropical storm and is moving northward towards the Massachusetts coast. Meanwhile nineteen Red Cross shelters in North Carolina housed nearly 1,500 residents last night as the storm slowly moved through the area.
A tropical storm warning remains in effect from Cape Lookout, North Carolina northward to the north Carolina/Virginia border; however it will be discontinued later today according to the National Weather Service (NWS). A watch remains from point Judith, Rhode Island to Plymouth, Massachusetts, as well as for Southwestern Nova Scotia.
Ophelia left behind up to 18 inches of rain in some parts of southeastern North Carolina, where it further eroded coastlines and knocked down trees and power lines. Nearly 240,000 customers were left without power after the storm moved through the region, although many have already had power restored.
Ophelia is moving north-northeast at about 8 mph, and maximum sustained winds are about 65 mph, according to NWS. The center of tropical storm Ophelia was about 60 miles east-northeast of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina this morning. The storm is expected to turn northeast and increase in speed throughout the day, but will not pick up strength.
Rainfall is not expected to be substantial across Eastern North Carolina and Southeastern Virginia, although coastal storm surge flooding of one to three feet above normal tide levels is possible in areas of onshore winds. Surges may reach three to four feet on some rivers, but are expected to subside later today.
Ophelia is the 15th named storm of the Atlantic hurricane season.
All American Red Cross disaster assistance is free, made possible by voluntary donations of time and money from the American people. You can help the victims of thousands of disasters across the country each year, disasters like the Midwest ice storms, by making a financial gift to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund, which enables the Red Cross to provide shelter, food, counseling and other assistance to victims of disaster. The American Red Cross honors donor intent. If you wish to designate your donation to a specific disaster please do so at the time of your donation. Call 1-800-REDCROSS or 1-800-257-7575 (Spanish). Contributions to the Disaster Relief Fund may be sent to your local American Red Cross chapter or to the American Red Cross, P. O. Box 37243, Washington, DC 20013. Internet users can make a secure online contribution by visiting www.redcross.org.
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