Tropical Storm Conditions for North Carolina

Tropical Storm Ophelia was located near latitude 32.7 North, longitude 76.0 West. Ophelia is moving toward the north-northwest near 12 mph. This general motion is expected to continue during the next day or so, followed by a slight turn toward the north. On the forecast track, the center of Ophelia will approach the coast of North Carolina tonight and then move across eastern North Carolina, southeastern Virginia and the Delmarva Peninsula Saturday and Sunday. Data from the Air Force Reserve Hurricane Hunters and satellite wind data indicate that maximum sustained winds have increased to near 60 mph with higher gusts. Some slight strengthening is possible before landfall along the coast of North Carolina.

Tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 275 miles from the center. NOAA buoy 41025 at Diamond Shoals, North Carolina, recently reported a sustained wind of 47 mph and a gust of 60 mph. A NOAA C-MAN station at Cape Lookout, North Carolina, recently reported a sustained wind of 45 mph and a gust of 52 mph.

The estimated minimum central pressure is 992 mb or 29.29 inches.