Current:Home > Contact-usTropical Storm Ophelia forecast to make landfall early Saturday on North Carolina coast-Angel Dreamer Wealth Society D1 Reviews & Insights
Tropical Storm Ophelia forecast to make landfall early Saturday on North Carolina coast
View Date:2024-12-23 21:51:07
ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) — Tropical Storm Ophelia was expected to make landfall on the North Carolina coast early Saturday morning with the potential for damaging winds and dangerous surges of water, the U.S. National Hurricane Center said.
Life-threatening flooding caused by the weather system was forecast for parts of eastern North Carolina and southeastern Virginia, the center said in an update at 11 p.m. Friday.
Ophelia was about 70 miles (115 kilometers) south of Cape Lookout, North Carolina, and heading north-northwest at 12 mph (19 kph) late Friday after spinning into tropical storm during the afternoon.
The system had maximum sustained winds of 70 mph (113 kph) with some higher gusts, but was forecast to weaken after landfall, the hurricane center reported.
Ophelia was expected to turn north Saturday and then shift northeast on Sunday. The storm promised a weekend of windy conditions and heavy rain up to 7 inches (18 centimeters) in parts of North Carolina and Virginia and 2 to 4 inches (5 to 10 centimeters) in the rest of the mid-Atlantic region through Sunday.
A storm surge warning, indicating danger from rising water moving inland, was in effect from Bogue Inlet, North Carolina, to Chincoteague, Virginia. Surges between 4 and 6 feet (1.2 and 1.8 meters) were forecast in some areas, the hurricane center said.
A tropical storm warning was issued from Cape Fear, North Carolina, to Fenwick Island, Delaware. A hurricane watch was in effect in North Carolina for the area north of Surf City to Ocracoke Inlet, the center reported.
The governors of North Carolina, Virginia and Maryland declared a state of emergency Friday as some schools closed early and several weekend events were canceled.
North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper issued his state’s emergency declaration, aiming to expedite preparations and help provide a swift response.
“The storm’s path has been difficult to predict and we want to ensure that farmers, first responders and utility crews have the tools necessary to prepare for severe weather,” Cooper said.
The North Carolina Ferry System on Friday suspended service on all routes until conditions improve, officials said.
Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s executive order sought to ease response and recovery efforts.
“We want to ensure that all communities, particularly those with the greatest anticipated impact, have the resources they need to respond and recover from the effects of this storm,” Youngkin said, encouraging residents to prepare emergency kits and follow weather forecasts closely.
Maryland Gov. Wes Moore said in a statement Friday evening that the state expected an extended period of strong winds, heavy rainfall and elevated tides.
In Annapolis, Maryland’s capital, water taxi driver Scott Bierman said service would be closed Saturday.
“We don’t operate when it’s going to endanger passengers and or damage vessels,” Bierman said.
In Washington, the Nationals baseball team postponed its Saturday game until Sunday.
It is not uncommon for one or two tropical storms, or even hurricanes, to form off the East Coast each year, National Hurricane Center Director Michael Brennan said.
“We’re right at the peak of hurricane season, we can basically have storms form anywhere across much of the Atlantic basin,” Brennan said.
Scientists say climate change could result in hurricanes expanding their reach into mid-latitude regions more often, making storms like this month’s Hurricane Lee more common.
One study simulated tropical cyclone tracks from pre-industrial times, modern times and a future with higher emissions. It found that hurricanes would track closer to the coasts including around Boston, New York and Virginia and be more likely to form along the Southeast coast.
Nancy Shoemaker and her husband Bob stopped by a waterside park in downtown Annapolis to pick up sandbags. A water surge in a storm last October washed away sandbags they had in their yard.
“We’re hoping it won’t be that way this time,” Nancy Shoemaker said. “If we have a lot of wind and a lot of surge, it can look like the ocean out there, so that’s a problem.”
___
Brumfield reported from Silver Spring, Maryland. AP Radio reporter Jackie Quinn in Washington and AP reporter Lisa Baumann in Washington state contributed.
___
Follow AP’s climate coverage at: https://apnews.com/hub/climate-and-environment
veryGood! (2)
Related
- Pentagon secrets leaker Jack Teixeira set to be sentenced, could get up to 17 years in prison
- Jason Duggar Is Engaged to Girlfriend Maddie Grace
- Man charged with murder in connection to elderly couple missing from nudist ranch: Police
- Chicago Sky forward Angel Reese sets WNBA single-season rebounds record
- Lala Kent Swears by This Virgo-Approved Accessory and Shares Why Stassi Schroeder Inspires Her Fall Style
- Scottie Scheffler career earnings: FedEx Cup winner banks massive payout
- Is there an AT&T outage? Why your iPhone may be stuck in SOS mode.
- Pitt RB Rodney Hammond Jr. declared ineligible for season ahead of opener
- Jana Kramer’s Ex Mike Caussin Shares Resentment Over Her Child Support Payments
- Four Downs and a Bracket: Clemson is not as far from College Football Playoff as you think
Ranking
- Investigation into Chinese hacking reveals ‘broad and significant’ spying effort, FBI says
- Man charged with murder in connection to elderly couple missing from nudist ranch: Police
- Giving up pets to seek rehab can worsen trauma. A Colorado group intends to end that
- What restaurants are open on Labor Day? Hours and details for McDonald's, Chick-fil-A, more
- Chris Pratt and Katherine Schwarzenegger welcome their first son together
- Chocolate’s future could hinge on success of growing cocoa not just in the tropics, but in the lab
- Are Walmart, Target and Home Depot open on Labor Day? See retail store hours and details
- California lawmakers approve legislation to ban deepfakes, protect workers and regulate AI
Recommendation
-
'Gladiator 2' review: Yes, we are entertained again by outrageous sequel
-
Chocolate’s future could hinge on success of growing cocoa not just in the tropics, but in the lab
-
Strikes start at top hotel chains as housekeepers seek higher wages and daily room cleaning work
-
Get 50% Off Ariana Grande Perfume, Kyle Richards' Hair Fix, Paige DeSorbo's Lash Serum & $7 Ulta Deals
-
Rita Ora pays tribute to Liam Payne at MTV Europe Music Awards: 'He brought so much joy'
-
Nikki Garcia Ditches Wedding Ring in First Outing Since Artem Chigvintsev's Domestic Violence Arrest
-
Can the ‘Magic’ and ‘Angels’ that Make Long Trails Mystical for Hikers Also Conjure Solutions to Environmental Challenges?
-
How Swimmer Ali Truwit Got Ready for the 2024 Paralympics a Year After Losing Her Leg in a Shark Attack