Hurricane Ophelia
Public Advisory 38A
000
WTNT31 KNHC 151749
TCPAT1
BULLETIN
HURRICANE OPHELIA INTERMEDIATE ADVISORY NUMBER 38A
NWS TPC/NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL
2 PM EDT THU SEP 15 2005
...OPHELIA STALLS JUST OFFSHORE THE NORTH CAROLINA OUTER BANKS...
A HURRICANE WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM SURF CITY TO THE NORTH
CAROLINA/VIRGINIA BORDER...INCLUDING THE PAMLICO AND ALBEMARLE
SOUNDS. A PORTION OF THE WARNING AREA MAY BE DISCONTINUED LATER
TODAY.
A TROPICAL STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT NORTH OF THE NORTH
CAROLINA/VIRGINIA BORDER TO CAPE CHARLES LIGHT VIRGINIA...INCLUDING
THE CHESAPEAKE BAY SOUTH OF NEW POINT COMFORT.
A HURRICANE WARNING MEANS THAT HURRICANE CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED IN
THE WARNING AREA WITHIN THE NEXT 24 HOURS. A TROPICAL STORM WARNING
MEANS THAT TROPICAL STORM CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED IN THE WARNING
AREA WITHIN THE NEXT 24 HOURS.
FOR STORM INFORMATION SPECIFIC TO YOUR AREA...INCLUDING POSSIBLE
INLAND WATCHES AND WARNINGS...PLEASE MONITOR PRODUCTS ISSUED
BY YOUR LOCAL WEATHER OFFICE.
AT 2 PM EDT...1800Z...THE CENTER OF HURRICANE OPHELIA WAS LOCATED
NEAR LATITUDE 34.7 NORTH... LONGITUDE 75.7 WEST OR ABOUT 35 MILES
SOUTH-SOUTHWEST OF CAPE HATTERAS NORTH CAROLINA AND ABOUT 55 MILES
EAST-NORTHEAST OF CAPE LOOKOUT NORTH CAROLINA.
OPHELIA HAS BEEN NEARLY STATIONARY. HOWEVER...A SLOW DRIFT TO THE
EAST OR EAST-NORTHEAST IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN LATER THIS AFTERNOON OR
TONIGHT. STEERING CURRENTS REMAIN WEAK...SO SOME ERRATIC MOTION
WILL BE POSSIBLE. WHILE THE CENTER OF OPHELIA IS FORECAST TO REMAIN
JUST OFFSHORE THE NORTH CAROLINA OUTER BANKS... PORTIONS OF THE
NORTHERN EYEWALL ARE EXPECTED TO REMAIN OVER OR NEAR THE OUTER
BANKS DURING THE NEXT 12 TO POSSIBLY 24 HOURS.
REPORTS FROM AN AIR FORCE RESERVE UNIT RECONNAISSANCE AIRCRAFT
INDICATE MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS REMAIN NEAR 80 MPH WITH HIGHER
GUSTS. OPHELIA IS A CATEGORY ONE HURRICANE ON THE SAFFIR-SIMPSON
SCALE. SOME FLUCTUATIONS IN STRENGTH ARE POSSIBLE DURING THE NEXT
24 HOURS.
HURRICANE FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 40 MILES...MAINLY
NORTHEAST THROUGH SOUTHEAST OF THE CENTER...AND TROPICAL STORM
FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 140 MILES. DURING THE PAST
HOUR...A GUST TO 60 MPH WAS REPORTED AT CAPE HATTERAS NORTH
CAROLINA...AND A GUST TO 81 MPH WAS REPORTED BY A NOAA BUOY
LOCATED AT DIAMOND SHOALS.
THE MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE RECENTLY REPORTED BY RECONNAISSANCE
AIRCRAFT WAS 986 MB...29.12 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 FLOW. A STORM SURGE OF 6 TO 8
FEET IS POSSIBLE AT THE HEADS OF BAYS AND RIVERS.
OPHELIA IS EXPECTED TO PRODUCE ADDITIONAL RAINFALL ACCUMULATIONS OF
3 TO 5 INCHES OVER PORTIONS OF EXTREME EASTERN NORTH CAROLINA...
INCLUDING THE OUTER BANKS DURING THE NEXT 24 HOURS.
REPEATING THE 2 PM EDT POSITION...34.7 N... 75.7 W. MOVEMENT
STATIONARY. MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS... 80 MPH. MINIMUM CENTRAL
PRESSURE... 986 MB.
THE NEXT ADVISORY WILL BE ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER
AT 5 PM EDT.
FORECASTER STEWART
$$
