Tropical Storm Ophelia gained strength as it moved toward the North Carolina coast on Friday, promising a weekend of heavy rain and windy conditions across the Mid-Atlantic.
Forecasters issued a hurricane warning for parts of eastern North Carolina, saying Ophelia had the potential to become even stronger as it moved over the warm waters of the Gulf Stream.
The storm was expected to make landfall in North Carolina Saturday morning, dumping up to 7 inches across parts of the state and southeastern Virginia.
The governors of North Carolina, Maryland and Virginia declared states of emergency.
“As this storm has organized and intensified, it is clear from the latest forecasts that impacts across the Commonwealth are likely,” said Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin.
“We want to ensure that all communities, particularly those most likely to be impacted, have the resources they need to respond to and recover from the impacts of this storm.”
“We anticipate an extended period of strong winds, heavy rainfall and increased flooding,” Maryland Gov. Wes Moore said Friday.
Beachgoers brave the weather and stroll along the Virginia Beach Oceanfront
Waves break on the jetty at Rudee Inlet in Virginia Beach on Friday as Tropical Storm Ophelia approaches the area
States on the East Coast are preparing for the impacts of Tropical Storm Ophelia. A spokeswoman for the Office of Emergency Management for the city of Annapolis, Maryland, sandbags Friday
The National Hurricane Center (NHC) has issued a tropical storm warning for areas including Cape Fear, Albemarle and Pamlico Sound in North Carolina, as well as southern Delaware, southeastern Virginia and parts of the Chesapeake Bay.
A storm surge warning is in effect for areas from Beaufort Inlet, North Carolina to Chincoteague, Virginia, and portions of the Chesapeake Bay south of Colonial Beach, Virginia.
Storm surge warning means there is a risk of life-threatening flooding from rising water moving inland from the coast. Storm surges are expected to reach three to five feet.
Ophelia is expected to produce 3 to 5 inches of rainfall, with parts of eastern North Carolina and southeastern Virginia potentially receiving up to 7 inches.
Once the storm reaches landfall in North Carolina, it is expected to move north along the coast. By the time it reaches New York City, the worst will be over.
Parts of the Mid-Atlantic into southern New England will see five to four inches of rain through Sunday.
Ophelia reached maximum sustained winds of 60 miles per hour with higher gusts.
A slight reinforcement is possible until landing. It is moving north-northwest at 12 miles per hour.
Tropical Storm Ophelia is now the 16th named storm of the 2023 Atlantic hurricane season.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has predicted an “above average” Atlantic hurricane season due to record warm sea surface temperatures.
Zach Wright, 12, skimboards in floodwaters on the Lafayette River in the Larchmont neighborhood of Norfolk, Virginia
Waves break on the jetty at Rudee Inlet in Virginia Beach as Ophelia gains strength as it makes its way toward the North Carolina coast, promising a weekend of heavy rain and wind
A brewing tropical storm threatens to hit the East Coast with strong winds and life-threatening storm surges
Ophelia officially became a tropical storm after winds reached over 37 mph (60 km/h).
Nancy Shoemaker and her husband Bob stopped by a waterfront park in downtown Annapolis, Maryland’s capital, to pick up sandbags to protect their waterfront home.
Last year at the end of October they experienced a large flood of water that entered their garden and even washed away some sandbags.
“We’re hoping it won’t be like that this time,” Nancy Shoemaker said. “When we have a lot of wind and big waves, it can look like the sea out there, so that’s a problem.”
Ophelia has already impacted water taxis in Annapolis, where driver Scott Bierman said service would stop at 6 p.m. because of the decision to close Saturday.
“We do not operate if it endangers passengers or damages ships,” Bierman said.
It’s not unusual for one or two tropical storms – or even hurricanes – to form just off the East Coast each year, said Michael Brennan, director of the National Hurricane Center.
“We are in the middle of the peak of hurricane season, storms can form virtually anywhere in the Atlantic basin,” Brennan said.
Beachgoers brave the weather and walk along the Virginia Beach boardwalk as the storm approaches
The treetops blow sideways on Virginia Beach. Ophelia gained strength as it approached the coast of North Carolina
Nancy and Bob Shoemaker, whose home is on the water, load sandbags into their car in downtown Annapolis, Maryland, on Friday to prepare for the approaching storm
The National Hurricane Center has issued a tropical storm warning for areas including Cape Fear, Albemarle and Pamlico Sound in North Carolina, as well as southern Delaware, southeastern Virginia and parts of the Chesapeake Bay
It is named Potential Tropical Cyclone 16 and is expected to become a tropical storm starting Friday as it approaches the coast of North Carolina
Potential Tropical Cyclone 16 is expected to bring several inches of rain from Florida to the Northeast and New England
Scientists say climate change could cause hurricanes to extend their reach into mid-latitude regions more often, making storms like Hurricane Lee more common this month.
A study simulated the tracks of tropical cyclones from pre-industrial times, modern times and a future with higher emissions. It found that hurricanes would move closer to the coasts, including around Boston, New York and Virginia, and were more likely to form along the southeast coast.
North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper issued his state’s emergency declaration to accelerate preparations and enable a rapid response.
“The path of the storm was difficult to predict and we want to ensure farmers, first responders and utility personnel have the tools they need to prepare for severe weather,” Cooper said.
Schools in coastal North Carolina and Virginia announced plans to dismiss students early Friday and cancel after-school and weekend activities.
The North Carolina Ferry System announced it would suspend several routes and the State Emergency Response Team planned to move to increased monitoring on Friday to help coordinate resources, the governor’s office said.
Meanwhile, Hurricane Nigel has been downgraded to a post-tropical cyclone centered about 640 miles northwest of the Azores with maximum sustained winds of 70 mph.
There were no associated coast watches or warnings as the storm moved northeast at 37 mph (60 km/h), the hurricane center said in its latest system update Friday morning.