574  
WTUS82 KILM 230300  
HLSILM  
NCZ105>110-231100-  
 
TROPICAL STORM OPHELIA LOCAL STATEMENT ADVISORY NUMBER 7  
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILMINGTON NC AL162023  
1100 PM EDT FRI SEP 22 2023  
 
THIS PRODUCT COVERS SOUTHEAST NORTH CAROLINA AND NORTHEAST SOUTH CAROLINA  
 
**TROPICAL STORM CONDITIONS EXPECTED ACROSS PORTIONS OF SOUTHEAST  
NORTH CAROLINA THROUGH EARLY SATURDAY**  
 
NEW INFORMATION  
---------------  
 
* CHANGES TO WATCHES AND WARNINGS:  
- NONE  
 
* CURRENT WATCHES AND WARNINGS:  
- A TROPICAL STORM WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR COASTAL NEW HANOVER,  
COASTAL PENDER, INLAND NEW HANOVER, AND INLAND PENDER  
 
* STORM INFORMATION:  
- ABOUT 70 MILES SOUTHEAST OF WILMINGTON NC OR ABOUT 120 MILES  
EAST OF MYRTLE BEACH SC  
- 33.6N 76.8W  
- STORM INTENSITY 70 MPH  
- MOVEMENT NORTH-NORTHWEST OR 330 DEGREES AT 12 MPH  
 
SITUATION OVERVIEW  
------------------  
 
TROPICAL STORM OPHELIA SOUTHEAST OF CAPE FEAR WILL MOVE NORTHWARD  
THROUGH SATURDAY, FORECASTED TO MAKE LANDFALL NORTH OF NEW RIVER INLET  
IN NORTH CAROLINA LATE TONIGHT INTO EARLY SATURDAY.  
 
THE PRIMARY HAZARDS ACROSS SOUTHEAST NORTH CAROLINA AND NORTHEAST  
SOUTH CAROLINA ARE EXPECTED TO BE:  
 
- MARINE/SURF - HAZARDOUS MARINE AND SURF CONDITIONS ALONG THE  
ENTIRE COAST OF NORTHEAST SOUTH CAROLINA AND SOUTHEAST NORTH  
CAROLINA  
 
- HEAVY RAIN - HEAVY DOWNPOURS COULD CAUSE LOCALIZED MINOR FLOODING  
OF ROADS AND LOW-LYING AREAS, MAINLY ACROSS EASTERN PORTIONS OF  
SOUTHEAST NORTH CAROLINA  
 
- WINDS - TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS, ESPECIALLY IN GUSTS, ARE  
EXPECTED, ESPECIALLY ALONG THE COAST NORTH OF CAPE FEAR  
 
- COASTAL FLOODING - MINOR COASTAL FLOODING POSSIBLE, ESPECIALLY  
NORTH OF CAPE FEAR AROUND THE OVERNIGHT HIGH TIDE  
 
POTENTIAL IMPACTS  
-----------------  
 
* FLOODING RAIN:  
POTENTIAL IMPACTS FROM THE FLOODING RAIN ARE STILL UNFOLDING ACROSS  
EASTERN PARTS OF PENDER AND NEW HANOVER COUNTIES. REMAIN WELL GUARDED  
AGAINST LIFE-THREATENING FLOOD WATERS HAVING POSSIBLE EXTENSIVE  
IMPACTS. IF REALIZED, THESE IMPACTS INCLUDE:  
- MAJOR FLOODING FROM RAINFALL MAY PROMPT EVACUATIONS AND  
NUMEROUS RESCUES.  
- RIVERS AND STREAMS MAY RAPIDLY OVERFLOW THEIR BANKS IN MULTIPLE  
PLACES. CREEKS AND DITCHES WILL FLOOD AND MAY CONTAIN STRONG  
CURRENTS.  
- FLOOD WATERS MAY ENTER MANY STRUCTURES, AND SOME MAY BECOME  
UNINHABITABLE. SOME ROAD SCOURS OR COMPLETE ROAD FAILURES WILL  
BE POSSIBLE, ALONG WITH THE POTENTIAL FOR SINKHOLES. MANY  
STREETS AND PARKING LOTS MAY FLOOD, AND MAY BE IMPACTED BY  
FLOWING WATER. MANY ROAD AND LOW-LYING BRIDGE CLOSURES ARE  
POSSIBLE WITH SOME WEAKENED OR WASHED AWAY. DRIVING CONDITIONS  
WILL BE DANGEROUS.  
- THE DELIVERY OF DRINKING WATER AND SEWER SERVICES MAY BE  
INTERRUPTED. FLOOD WATERS MAY BE POLLUTED AND CONTAIN HAZARDOUS  
MATERIALS.  
 
REMAIN WELL GUARDED AGAINST DANGEROUS FLOOD WATERS HAVING POSSIBLE  
LIMITED TO SIGNIFICANT IMPACTS ACROSS PORTIONS OF SOUTHEAST NORTH  
CAROLINA, ESPECIALLY EAST OF AN ELIZABETHTOWN TO OCEAN ISLE BEACH LINE.  
 
* WIND:  
PROTECT AGAINST DANGEROUS WIND HAVING POSSIBLE SIGNIFICANT IMPACTS  
ACROSS SOUTHEAST NORTH CAROLINA AND NORTHEAST SOUTH CAROLINA.  
POTENTIAL IMPACTS IN THIS AREA INCLUDE:  
- SOME DAMAGE TO PORCHES AND AWNINGS, CARPORTS, SHEDS, AND MOBILE  
HOMES IS POSSIBLE. UNSECURED LIGHTWEIGHT OBJECTS MAY BE BLOWN  
ABOUT.  
- SOME LARGE LIMBS MAY BREAK FROM TREES. A FEW SHALLOW ROOTED OR  
WEAK TREES MAY SNAP OR BE KNOCKED DOWN. SOME FENCES AND ROADWAY  
SIGNS DAMAGED.  
- A FEW ROADS MAY BECOME IMPASSABLE DUE TO DEBRIS, PARTICULARLY  
WITHIN URBAN OR HEAVILY WOODED LOCATIONS. HAZARDOUS DRIVING  
CONDITIONS ARE POSSIBLE, ESPECIALLY FOR HIGH PROFILE VEHICLES  
ON BRIDGES AND OTHER ELEVATED ROADWAYS.  
- SCATTERED POWER AND COMMUNICATIONS OUTAGES ARE POSSIBLE.  
 
* SURGE:  
PROTECT AGAINST LOCALLY HAZARDOUS SURGE HAVING POSSIBLE LIMITED  
IMPACTS ACROSS COASTAL SOUTHEAST NORTH CAROLINA, PARTICULARLY NORTH  
OF CAPE FEAR. POTENTIAL IMPACTS IN THIS AREA INCLUDE:  
- LOCALIZED INUNDATION AND MINOR OVER-WASH IS POSSIBLE, MAINLY  
ALONG IMMEDIATE SHORELINES AND OTHER VULNERABLE LOW-LYING AREAS  
ALONG THE COAST. LOW SPOTS ALONG WATERWAYS AND TIDAL CREEKS MAY  
ALSO BE IMPACTED.  
- NAVIGATION MAY BE DIFFICULT NEAR INLETS AND WATERWAYS, AS  
NAVIGATIONAL AIDS MAY BE OFF STATION OR MISSING.  
- MINOR BEACH EROSION POSSIBLE.  
 
ELSEWHERE ACROSS SOUTHEAST NORTH CAROLINA AND NORTHEAST SOUTH  
CAROLINA, LITTLE TO NO IMPACT IS ANTICIPATED.  
 
* OTHER COASTAL HAZARDS:  
HAZARDOUS SURF CONDITIONS, INCLUDING LIFE-THREATENING RIP CURRENTS, ARE  
EXPECTED THROUGH SATURDAY ALONG THE ENTIRE SOUTHEAST NORTH CAROLINA AND  
NORTHEAST SOUTH CAROLINA COASTS.  
 
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS  
----------------------------------  
 
* OTHER PREPAREDNESS INFORMATION:  
NOW IS THE TIME TO REMAIN SAFELY SHELTERED FROM THE STORM. STAY  
INSIDE AND AWAY FROM WINDOWS. LISTEN FOR UPDATES AND BE READY IN CASE  
YOU LOSE ELECTRICAL POWER. LOCATE YOUR BATTERY POWERED RADIO AND  
FLASHLIGHT FROM YOUR EMERGENCY SUPPLIES KIT. KEEP THESE ITEMS CLOSE.  
 
DURING THE PEAK OF THE STORM, KEEP YOUR SHOES ON AND RAIN GEAR HANDY.  
BOOTS AND TENNIS SHOES OFFER THE BEST FOOT PROTECTION IF YOU BECOME  
UNEXPECTEDLY EXPOSED TO THE ELEMENTS.  
 
CONTINUE TO KEEP YOUR CELL PHONE WELL CHARGED FOR AS LONG AS  
POSSIBLE. IF YOU LOSE POWER, USE IT MORE SPARINGLY AND MAINLY FOR  
PERSONAL EMERGENCIES AND CHECK-INS. DO NOT OVERLOAD COMMUNICATIONS  
SYSTEMS WITH IDLE CHATTER.  
 
* ADDITIONAL SOURCES OF INFORMATION:  
- FOR INFORMATION ON APPROPRIATE PREPARATIONS SEE READY.GOV  
- FOR INFORMATION ON CREATING AN EMERGENCY PLAN SEE GETAGAMEPLAN.ORG  
- FOR ADDITIONAL DISASTER PREPAREDNESS INFORMATION SEE REDCROSS.ORG  
 
NEXT UPDATE  
-----------  
 
THE NEXT LOCAL STATEMENT WILL BE ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL WEATHER  
SERVICE IN WILMINGTON NC AROUND 6 AM EDT, OR SOONER IF CONDITIONS  
WARRANT.  
 

 
 
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