094  
WTUS82 KRAH 221829  
HLSRAH  
NCZ011-027-028-043-078-089-230230-  
 
TROPICAL STORM OPHELIA LOCAL STATEMENT INTERMEDIATE ADVISORY NUMBER 5A  
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RALEIGH NC AL162023  
229 PM EDT FRI SEP 22 2023  
 
THIS PRODUCT COVERS CENTRAL NORTH CAROLINA  
**TROPICAL STORM OPHELIA WILL APPROACH THE COAST OF NORTH CAROLINA  
TONIGHT**  
 
NEW INFORMATION  
---------------  
 
* CHANGES TO WATCHES AND WARNINGS:  
- NONE  
 
* CURRENT WATCHES AND WARNINGS:  
- A TROPICAL STORM WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR EDGECOMBE, HALIFAX,  
NASH, SAMPSON, WAYNE, AND WILSON  
 
* STORM INFORMATION:  
- ABOUT 240 MILES SOUTH-SOUTHEAST OF ROCKY MOUNT NC OR ABOUT 270  
MILES SOUTH-SOUTHEAST OF ROANOKE RAPIDS NC  
- 32.7N 76.0W  
- STORM INTENSITY 60 MPH  
- MOVEMENT NORTH-NORTHWEST OR 345 DEGREES AT 12 MPH  
 
SITUATION OVERVIEW  
------------------  
 
TROPICAL STORM 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. SOME  
STRENGTHENING IS FORECAST DURING THE NEXT DAY OR SO BEFORE IT REACHES  
THE COAST OF NORTH CAROLINA.  
 
POTENTIAL IMPACTS  
-----------------  
 
* FLOODING RAIN:  
PROTECT AGAINST DANGEROUS RAINFALL FLOODING HAVING POSSIBLE SIGNIFICANT  
IMPACTS ACROSS EASTERN CENTRAL NC. POTENTIAL IMPACTS INCLUDE:  
- MODERATE RAINFALL FLOODING MAY PROMPT SEVERAL EVACUATIONS AND  
RESCUES.  
- RIVERS AND TRIBUTARIES MAY QUICKLY BECOME SWOLLEN WITH SWIFTER  
CURRENTS AND OVERSPILL THEIR BANKS IN A FEW PLACES, ESPECIALLY  
IN USUALLY VULNERABLE SPOTS. SMALL STREAMS, CREEKS, AND DITCHES  
OVERFLOW.  
- FLOOD WATERS CAN ENTER SOME STRUCTURES OR WEAKEN FOUNDATIONS.  
SEVERAL PLACES MAY EXPERIENCE EXPANDED AREAS OF RAPID  
INUNDATION AT UNDERPASSES, LOW-LYING SPOTS, AND POOR DRAINAGE  
AREAS. SOME STREETS AND PARKING LOTS TAKE ON MOVING WATER AS  
STORM DRAINS AND RETENTION PONDS OVERFLOW. DRIVING CONDITIONS  
BECOME HAZARDOUS. SOME ROAD AND BRIDGE CLOSURES.  
 
PROTECT AGAINST LOCALLY HAZARDOUS RAINFALL FLOODING HAVING POSSIBLE  
LIMITED IMPACTS ACROSS EASTERN CENTRAL NC.  
 
* WIND:  
PROTECT AGAINST HAZARDOUS WIND HAVING POSSIBLE LIMITED IMPACTS ACROSS  
CENTRAL NORTH CAROLINA. POTENTIAL 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, BUT WITH GREATER NUMBERS IN PLACES WHERE TREES ARE  
SHALLOW ROOTED. SOME FENCES AND ROADWAY SIGNS BLOWN OVER.  
- A FEW ROADS IMPASSABLE FROM DEBRIS, PARTICULARLY WITHIN URBAN  
OR HEAVILY WOODED PLACES. HAZARDOUS DRIVING CONDITIONS ON  
BRIDGES AND OTHER ELEVATED ROADWAYS.  
- SCATTERED POWER AND COMMUNICATIONS OUTAGES.  
 
* TORNADOES:  
PROTECT AGAINST A TORNADO EVENT HAVING POSSIBLE LIMITED IMPACTS ACROSS  
COASTAL PLAINS. POTENTIAL IMPACTS INCLUDE:  
- THE OCCURRENCE OF ISOLATED TORNADOES CAN HINDER THE EXECUTION  
OF EMERGENCY PLANS DURING TROPICAL EVENTS.  
- A FEW PLACES MAY EXPERIENCE TORNADO DAMAGE, ALONG WITH POWER  
AND COMMUNICATIONS DISRUPTIONS.  
- LOCATIONS COULD REALIZE ROOFS PEELED OFF BUILDINGS, CHIMNEYS  
TOPPLED, MOBILE HOMES PUSHED OFF FOUNDATIONS OR OVERTURNED,  
LARGE TREE TOPS AND BRANCHES SNAPPED OFF, SHALLOW-ROOTED TREES  
KNOCKED OVER, MOVING VEHICLES BLOWN OFF ROADS, AND SMALL BOATS  
PULLED FROM MOORINGS.  
 
ELSEWHERE ACROSS CENTRAL NORTH CAROLINA, LITTLE TO NO IMPACT IS  
ANTICIPATED.  
 
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS  
----------------------------------  
 
* EVACUATIONS:  
WATCH/WARNING PHASE - TRAFFIC IS EXPECTED TO INCREASE ON AREA  
ROADWAYS IF EVACUATIONS ARE ORDERED FOR THE COAST, CREATING LONGER  
TRAVEL TIMES. BE SURE TO PLAN ACCORDINGLY.  
 
* OTHER PREPAREDNESS INFORMATION:  
 
IF YOU ARE RELOCATING TO SAFE SHELTER, LEAVE AS EARLY AS POSSIBLE.  
ALLOW EXTRA TIME TO REACH YOUR DESTINATION. MANY ROADS AND BRIDGES  
WILL BE CLOSED ONCE STRONG WINDS ARRIVE. CHECK THE LATEST WEATHER  
FORECAST BEFORE DEPARTING AND DRIVE WITH CAUTION.  
 
CLOSELY MONITOR WEATHER.GOV, NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR LOCAL NEWS OUTLETS  
FOR OFFICIAL STORM INFORMATION. BE READY TO ADAPT TO POSSIBLE CHANGES  
TO THE FORECAST. ENSURE YOU HAVE MULTIPLE WAYS TO RECEIVE WEATHER  
WARNINGS.  
 
* ADDITIONAL SOURCES OF INFORMATION:  
- FOR INFORMATION ON APPROPRIATE PREPARATIONS SEE READYNC.ORG  
- 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 RALEIGH NC AROUND 6 PM EDT, OR SOONER IF CONDITIONS  
WARRANT.  
 

 
 
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