000 WTNT31 KNHC 162358 TCPAT1 BULLETIN TROPICAL STORM OPHELIA INTERMEDIATE ADVISORY NUMBER 43A NWS TPC/NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL 8 PM EDT FRI SEP 16 2005 ...OPEHLIA CONTINUING TO ACCELERATE NORTHEASTWARD... A TROPICAL STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM WATCH HILL RHODE ISLAND TO PLYMOUTH MASSACHUSETTS...INCLUDING MARTHA'S VINEYARD AND NANTUCKET. A TROPICAL STORM WARNING MEANS THAT TROPICAL STORM CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED IN THE WARNING AREA IN THE NEXT 24 HOURS. A TROPICAL STORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR SOUTHWESTERN NOVA SCOTIA FROM YARMOUTH TO HALIFAX. THE PORTION OF THE WATCH AREA FROM YARMOUTH TO LUNENBURG WILL LIKELY BE UPGRADED TO A TROPICAL STORM WARNING LATER TONIGHT... AND THE WATCH AREA WILL ALSO BE EXPANDED TO INCLUDE THAT AREA FROM TRURO TO SHEET HARBOUR. 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 37.4 NORTH...LONGITUDE 72.6 WEST OR ABOUT 300 MILES... 480 KM...SOUTH-SOUTHWEST OF NANTUCKET MASSACHUSETTS. OPHELIA IS MOVING TOWARD THE NORTHEAST NEAR 16 MPH...26 KM/HR...AND THIS GENERAL MOTION IS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE WITH AN INCREASE IN FORWARD SPEED DURING THE NEXT 24 HOURS. MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS ARE NEAR 65 MPH...100 KM/HR...WITH HIGHER GUSTS. LITTLE CHANGE IN STRENGTH IS FORECAST DURING THE NEXT 24 HOURS. TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 105 MILES ...165 KM FROM THE CENTER. THE ESTIMATED MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE IS 993 MB...29.32 INCHES. TIDES OF 1 TO 3 FEET ABOVE NORMAL TIDE LEVELS ARE EXPECTED IN THE WARNING AREA IN AREAS OF ONSHORE FLOW. ABOVE NORMAL TIDES ALONG THE NORTH CAROLINA COAST SHOULD SUBSIDE TODAY. TOTAL RAINFALL ACCUMULATIONS OF 2 TO 4 INCHES WITH LOCALLY HEAVIER AMOUNTS ARE POSSIBLE ACROSS PORTIONS OF SOUTHEASTERN MASSACHUSETTS AND CAPE COD. REPEATING THE 8 PM EDT POSITION...37.4 N... 72.6 W. MOVEMENT TOWARD...NORTHEAST NEAR 16 MPH. MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS... 65 MPH. MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE... 993 MB. THE NEXT ADVISORY WILL BE ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER AT 11 PM EDT. FORECASTER STEWART $$