Hurricane OPHELIA

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HURRICANE OPHELIA INTERMEDIATE ADVISORY NUMBER  37A
NWS TPC/NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL
7 AM EDT THU SEP 15 2005
 
...OPHELIA NOT IN A HURRY TO MOVE AWAY FROM THE OUTER BANKS...
 
A HURRICANE WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM SURF CITY TO THE NORTH
CAROLINA/VIRGINIA BORDER...INCLUDING THE PAMLICO AND ALBEMARLE
SOUNDS.
 
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 7 AM EDT...1100Z...THE CENTER OF HURRICANE OPHELIA WAS LOCATED
NEAR LATITUDE 34.8 NORTH...LONGITUDE  75.9 WEST OR ABOUT 35 MILES
EAST-NORTHEAST OF CAPE LOOKOUT NORTH CAROLINA AND ABOUT 45 MILES
SOUTHWEST OF CAPE HATTERAS NORTH CAROLINA.
 
OPHELIA IS MOVING TOWARD THE NORTHEAST NEAR 6 MPH AND THIS MOTION IS
EXPECTED TO CONTINUE TODAY. WHILE THE CENTER OF OPHELIA IS EXPECTED
TO PARALLEL AND PASS A VERY SHORT DISTANCE OFFSHORE THE NORTH
CAROLINA OUTER BANKS OVER THE NEXT 12 HOURS...THE NORTHWEST EYEWALL
IS EXPECTED TO REMAIN OVER THE OUTER BANKS DURING THIS PERIOD.
 
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS ARE NEAR  85 MPH WITH HIGHER GUSTS.
OPHELIA IS A CATEGORY ONE HURRICANE ON THE SAFFIR-SIMPSON SCALE.
A GRADUAL WEAKENING SHOULD BEGIN LATER TODAY.
 
HURRICANE FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO  40 MILES FROM THE
CENTER...AND TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP
TO 140 MILES.
 
A RECONNAISSANCE PLANE ESTIMATED A MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE OF 981
MB...28.97 INCHES.
 
MAXIMUM COASTAL STORM SURGE FLOODING OF 4 TO 6 FEET ABOVE NORMAL
TIDE LEVELS...ALONG WITH LARGE AND DANGEROUS BATTERING WAVES...CAN
BE EXPECTED IN AREAS OF ONSHORE FLOW.  A STORM SURGE OF 8 TO 10
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...WITH MAXIMUM
STORM TOTAL AMOUNTS OF 15 INCHES POSSIBLE.
 
REPEATING THE 7 AM EDT POSITION...34.8 N... 75.9 W.  MOVEMENT
TOWARD...NORTHEAST NEAR  6 MPH.  MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS... 85 MPH.
MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE... 981 MB.
 
AN INTERMEDIATE ADVISORY WILL BE ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL HURRICANE
CENTER AT 9 AM EDT FOLLOWED BY THE NEXT COMPLETE ADVISORY AT 11 AM
EDT.
 
FORECASTER AVILA
 
 
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