319  
WTUS81 KAKQ 232125  
HLSAKQ  
MDZ021>025-NCZ014>017-031-032-102-VAZ075>078-084>086-089-090-093-095>100-523>525-240530-  
 
TROPICAL STORM OPHELIA LOCAL STATEMENT ADVISORY NUMBER 10  
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WAKEFIELD VA AL162023  
525 PM EDT SAT SEP 23 2023  
 
THIS PRODUCT COVERS CENTRAL AND EASTERN VIRGINIA...NORTHEAST NORTH CAROLINA...AND THE LOWER MARYLAND EASTERN SHORE  
 
**OPHELIA TRACKING NORTHWARD NEAR THE VIRGINIA NORTH CAROLINA  
BORDER**  
 
NEW INFORMATION  
---------------  
 
* CHANGES TO WATCHES AND WARNINGS:  
- THE STORM SURGE WARNING HAS BEEN CANCELLED FOR ACCOMACK,  
CAMDEN, CHESAPEAKE, CHOWAN, EASTERN CURRITUCK,  
NORFOLK/PORTSMOUTH, NORTHAMPTON, PASQUOTANK, PERQUIMANS,  
VIRGINIA BEACH, AND WESTERN CURRITUCK  
- THE STORM SURGE WARNING AND TROPICAL STORM WARNING HAVE BEEN  
CANCELLED FOR BERTIE  
- THE TROPICAL STORM WARNING HAS BEEN CANCELLED FOR HERTFORD,  
NORTHAMPTON, AND SOUTHAMPTON  
 
* CURRENT WATCHES AND WARNINGS:  
- A STORM SURGE WARNING AND TROPICAL STORM WARNING ARE IN EFFECT  
FOR GLOUCESTER, HAMPTON/POQUOSON, ISLE OF WIGHT, JAMES CITY,  
LANCASTER, MATHEWS, MIDDLESEX, NEWPORT NEWS, NORTHUMBERLAND,  
SUFFOLK, SURRY, WESTMORELAND, AND YORK  
- A TROPICAL STORM WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR ACCOMACK, CAMDEN,  
CHESAPEAKE, CHOWAN, DORCHESTER, EASTERN CURRITUCK, GATES,  
INLAND WORCESTER, MARYLAND BEACHES, NORFOLK/PORTSMOUTH,  
NORTHAMPTON, PASQUOTANK, PERQUIMANS, RICHMOND, SOMERSET,  
VIRGINIA BEACH, WESTERN CURRITUCK, AND WICOMICO  
 
* STORM INFORMATION:  
- ABOUT 160 MILES SOUTHWEST OF OCEAN CITY MD OR ABOUT 60 MILES  
WEST OF NORFOLK VA  
- 36.8N 77.3W  
- STORM INTENSITY 40 MPH  
- MOVEMENT NORTH OR 360 DEGREES AT 12 MPH  
 
SITUATION OVERVIEW  
------------------  
 
TROPICAL STORM OPHELIA CONTINUES TO TRACK NORTHWARD NEAR THE VIRGINIA  
NORTH CAROLINA BORDER EARLY THIS EVENING. OPHELIA WILL WEAKEN AS IT  
CONTINUES TO TRACK NORTHWARD ACROSS EASTERN VIRGINIA TONIGHT BEFORE  
BECOMING EXTRATROPICAL BY SUNDAY MORNING.  
 
IMPACTS FROM OPHELIA WILL CONTINUE, WHICH INCLUDE:  
 
* DANGEROUS MARINE AND HIGH SURF - DANGEROUS MARINE CONDITIONS ARE  
EXPECTED TO CONTINUE DUE TO THE STRONG WINDS AND HIGH SEAS. SEAS WILL  
REMAIN ELEVATED INTO SUNDAY. A HIGH RISK FOR RIP CURRENTS WILL  
CONTINUE THROUGH THE REMAINDER OF THE WEEKEND.  
 
* HEAVY RAIN - HEAVY DOWNPOURS WILL CONTINUE TO CAUSE LOCALIZED  
FLOODING OF ROADS AND LOW-LYING AREAS, ESPECIALLY ACROSS CENTRAL AND  
EASTERN VIRGINIA.  
 
* WINDS - TROPICAL STORM FORCE WIND GUSTS WILL CONTINUE TO IMPACT  
NORTHEAST NORTH CAROLINA, EAST-CENTRAL VIRGINIA AND THE LOWER EASTERN  
SHORE THROUGH LATE THIS EVENING OR TONIGHT. THESE STRONG WINDS WILL  
HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO CAUSE AREAS OF DOWNED TREES AND POWER OUTAGES.  
 
* COASTAL FLOODING - AREAS OF MODERATE TO MAJOR COASTAL FLOODING ARE  
EXPECTED DURING THE HIGH TIDE CYCLE THIS EVENING.  
 
POTENTIAL IMPACTS  
-----------------  
 
* WIND:  
POTENTIAL IMPACTS FROM THE MAIN WIND EVENT ARE NOW UNFOLDING ACROSS  
CENTRAL AND EASTERN VIRGINIA...NORTHEAST NORTH CAROLINA...AND THE  
LOWER MARYLAND EASTERN SHORE. REMAIN WELL SHELTERED FROM HAZARDOUS  
WIND HAVING LIMITED IMPACTS. IF REALIZED, THESE IMPACTS INCLUDE:  
- DAMAGE TO PORCHES, AWNINGS, CARPORTS, SHEDS, AND UNANCHORED  
MOBILE HOMES. UNSECURED LIGHTWEIGHT OBJECTS BLOWN ABOUT.  
- MANY LARGE TREE LIMBS BROKEN OFF. A FEW TREES SNAPPED OR  
UPROOTED, ESPECIALLY IF SOILS ARE SATURATED. SOME ROADWAY SIGNS  
WILL SUSTAIN DAMAGE.  
- A FEW ROADS WILL BE IMPASSABLE FROM DEBRIS. HAZARDOUS DRIVING  
CONDITIONS ON BRIDGES AND OTHER ELEVATED ROADWAYS.  
- SCATTERED POWER AND COMMUNICATIONS OUTAGES.  
 
* SURGE:  
POTENTIAL IMPACTS FROM THE MAIN SURGE EVENT ARE NOW UNFOLDING ACROSS  
EASTERN VIRGINIA. REMAIN WELL AWAY FROM LIFE- THREATENING SURGE HAVING  
SIGNIFICANT IMPACTS. IF REALIZED, THESE IMPACTS INCLUDE:  
- SEVERE STORM SURGE FLOODING WILL LIKELY CAUSE INUNDATION OF  
NUMEROUS ROADS AND BUILDINGS, RESULTING IN A THREAT TO LIFE AND  
PROPERTY. FLOODING WILL LIKELY EXTEND INLAND FROM THE  
WATERFRONT AND SHORELINE FLOODING HOMES, BUSINESSES AND  
ISOLATING SOME NEIGHBORHOODS. LARGE BREAKING WAVES WILL RESULT  
IN ADDITIONAL DAMAGE NEAR THE SHORELINE.  
- NUMEROUS ROADS FLOODED OR WASHED OUT.  
- MAJOR BEACH EROSION WITH HEAVY SURF BREACHING SOME DUNES.  
- SEVERE DAMAGE TO MARINAS, DOCKS, BOARDWALKS, AND PIERS IS  
EXPECTED. SMALL CRAFT BROKEN AWAY FROM MOORINGS, ESPECIALLY IN  
UNPROTECTED MARINAS AND DOCKS.  
 
POTENTIAL IMPACTS FROM THE MAIN SURGE EVENT ARE ALSO NOW UNFOLDING  
ACROSS NORTHEAST NORTH CAROLINA...EASTERN VIRGINIA...AND THE MARYLAND  
EASTERN SHORE. REMAIN WELL AWAY FROM LOCALLY HAZARDOUS SURGE HAVING  
LIMITED IMPACTS.  
 
* FLOODING RAIN:  
POTENTIAL IMPACTS FROM THE FLOODING RAIN ARE STILL UNFOLDING ACROSS  
CENTRAL AND EASTERN VIRGINIA. REMAIN WELL GUARDED AGAINST LIFE-  
THREATENING FLOOD WATERS HAVING EXTENSIVE IMPACTS. IF REALIZED, THESE  
IMPACTS INCLUDE:  
- EVACUATIONS AND RESCUES LIKELY DUE TO FLOODING FROM HEAVY  
RAINFALL  
- RIVERS AND TRIBUTARIES MAY RAPIDLY OVERFLOW THEIR BANKS IN  
MULTIPLE PLACES. SMALL STREAMS, CREEKS, AND DITCHES MAY BECOME  
DANGEROUS RIVERS. FLOOD CONTROL SYSTEMS AND BARRIERS MAY BECOME  
OVERWHELMED.  
- FLOOD WATERS ENTER STRUCTURES WITHIN MULTIPLE COMMUNITIES, WITH  
SOME STRUCTURES BECOMING UNINHABITABLE OR WASHED AWAY. SOME  
ESCAPE ROUTES INUNDATED BY FLOOD WATERS. STREETS, PARKING LOTS  
AND UNDERPASSES COULD BE SUBMERGED, WITH DRIVING CONDITIONS  
QUICKLY BECOMING DANGEROUS. NUMEROUS ROAD AND BRIDGE CLOSURES  
ARE EXPECTED WITH SOME BECOMING WEAKENED OR WASHED OUT.  
 
* TORNADOES:  
POTENTIAL IMPACTS FROM TORNADOES ARE STILL UNFOLDING ACROSS THE LOWER  
MARYLAND EASTERN SHORE. REMAIN WELL BRACED AGAINST A TORNADO EVENT  
HAVING LIMITED IMPACTS. IF REALIZED, THESE IMPACTS INCLUDE:  
- A FEW TORNADOES ARE EXPECTED. AS A RESULT, EXECUTION OF  
EMERGENCY PLANS COULD BE HINDERED IN AFFECTED AREAS.  
- A FEW PLACES MAY EXPERIENCE TORNADO DAMAGE, ALONG WITH POWER  
AND COMMUNICATIONS DISRUPTIONS.  
- ROOFS PEELED OFF SOME BUILDINGS. A FEW CHIMNEYS TOPPLED AND  
MOBILE HOMES PUSHED OFF FOUNDATIONS OR OVERTURNED. LARGE TREE  
TOPS AND BRANCHES SNAPPED OFF, WITH SOME TREES KNOCKED OVER. A  
FEW VEHICLES BLOWN OFF ROADS.  
 
ELSEWHERE ACROSS CENTRAL AND EASTERN VIRGINIA...NORTHEAST NORTH  
CAROLINA...AND THE LOWER MARYLAND EASTERN SHORE, LITTLE TO NO IMPACT  
IS ANTICIPATED.  
 
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS  
----------------------------------  
 
* EVACUATIONS:  
DO NOT ENTER EVACUATED AREAS UNTIL OFFICIALS HAVE GIVEN THE ALL CLEAR  
TO RETURN.  
 
* OTHER PREPAREDNESS INFORMATION:  
NOW IS THE TIME TO STAY INSIDE AND AWAY FROM WINDOWS. LISTEN FOR  
UPDATES AND BE READY IN CASE YOU LOSE ELECTRICAL POWER. KEEP A BATTERY-  
POWERED RADIO, CHARGED CELL PHONE AND FLASHLIGHT HANDY.  
 
KEEP YOUR CELL PHONE CHARGED AND IN POWER-SAVING MODE. IF YOU LOSE  
POWER, USE IT SPARINGLY AND MAINLY FOR PERSONAL EMERGENCIES AND  
CHECK-INS.  
 
DO NOT BE A THRILL SEEKER OR RISK YOUR LIFE FOR SENSELESS PHOTOS OR  
VIDEOS.  
 
IF YOU ARE PRONE TO FLOODING OR IN AN AREA UNDER A STORM SURGE WATCH  
OR WARNING, BE PREPARED FOR THE POSSIBILITY OF A QUICK AND DRAMATIC  
RISE IN WATER LEVELS.  
 
* ADDITIONAL SOURCES OF INFORMATION:  
- FOR INFORMATION ON APPROPRIATE PREPARATIONS SEE  
WWW.READYVIRGINIA.GOV, READYNC.ORG OR MEMA.MARYLAND.GOV  
- FOR THE LATEST WEATHER AND STORM INFORMATION GO TO  
WEATHER.GOV/WAKEFIELD  
 
NEXT UPDATE  
-----------  
 
THE NEXT LOCAL STATEMENT WILL BE ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL WEATHER  
SERVICE IN WAKEFIELD VA AROUND 12 AM EDT, OR SOONER IF CONDITIONS  
WARRANT.  
 

 
 
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