132  
WTUS82 KRAH 230315  
HLSRAH  
NCZ011-027-028-043-078-089-231115-  
 
TROPICAL STORM OPHELIA LOCAL STATEMENT ADVISORY NUMBER 7  
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RALEIGH NC AL162023  
1115 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 180 MILES SOUTHEAST OF RALEIGH NC OR ABOUT 150 MILES  
SOUTHEAST OF FAYETTEVILLE NC  
- 33.6N 76.8W  
- STORM INTENSITY 70 MPH  
- MOVEMENT NORTH-NORTHWEST OR 330 DEGREES AT 12 MPH  
 
SITUATION OVERVIEW  
------------------  
 
TROPICAL STORM OPHELIA WILL MOVE INLAND IN THE VICINITY OF CAPE  
LOOKOUT TONIGHT. OPHELIA WILL THEN MOVE SLOWLY NORTHWARD ACROSS EASTERN  
NC ON SATURDAY BEFORE LIFTING NORTHWARD ACROSS VIRGINIA AND THE  
SOUTHERN MIDDLE ATLANTIC COAST ON SUNDAY. MODERATE TO MINOR IMPACTS ARE  
EXPECTED ACROSS CENTRAL AND EASTERN PORTIONS OF CENTRAL NC TONIGHT  
THROUGH SATURDAY, WITH THE GREATEST IMPACTS EXPECTED ALONG AND EAST OF  
INTERSTATE 95.  
 
POTENTIAL IMPACTS  
-----------------  
 
* FLOODING RAIN:  
PROTECT AGAINST DANGEROUS RAINFALL FLOODING HAVING POSSIBLE SIGNIFICANT  
IMPACTS ACROSS THE EASTERN PIEDMONT AND COASTAL PLAIN. 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 THE EASTERN PIEDMONT AND COASTAL PLAIN.  
 
* WIND:  
PROTECT AGAINST DANGEROUS WIND HAVING POSSIBLE SIGNIFICANT IMPACTS  
ACROSS THE COASTAL PLAIN. POTENTIAL IMPACTS IN THIS AREA INCLUDE:  
- SOME DAMAGE TO ROOFING AND SIDING MATERIALS, ALONG WITH DAMAGE  
TO PORCHES, AWNINGS, CARPORTS, AND SHEDS. A FEW BUILDINGS  
EXPERIENCING WINDOW, DOOR, AND GARAGE DOOR FAILURES. MOBILE  
HOMES DAMAGED, ESPECIALLY IF UNANCHORED. UNSECURED LIGHTWEIGHT  
OBJECTS BECOME DANGEROUS PROJECTILES.  
- SEVERAL LARGE TREES SNAPPED OR UPROOTED, BUT WITH GREATER  
NUMBERS IN PLACES WHERE TREES ARE SHALLOW ROOTED. SEVERAL  
FENCES AND ROADWAY SIGNS BLOWN OVER.  
- A FEW ROADS IMPASSABLE FROM LARGE DEBRIS, AND MORE WITHIN URBAN  
OR HEAVILY WOODED PLACES. A FEW BRIDGES, CAUSEWAYS, AND ACCESS  
ROUTES IMPASSABLE.  
- SCATTERED POWER AND COMMUNICATIONS OUTAGES, BUT MORE PREVALENT  
IN AREAS WITH ABOVE GROUND LINES.  
 
ALSO, PROTECT AGAINST HAZARDOUS WIND HAVING POSSIBLE LIMITED IMPACTS  
ACROSS THE COASTAL PLAIN.  
 
* TORNADOES:  
PROTECT AGAINST A TORNADO EVENT HAVING POSSIBLE LIMITED IMPACTS ACROSS  
THE COASTAL PLAIN. 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:  
RAPIDLY RISING FLOOD WATERS ARE DEADLY. IF YOU ARE IN A FLOOD-PRONE  
AREA, CONSIDER MOVING TO HIGHER GROUND. NEVER DRIVE THROUGH A FLOODED  
ROADWAY. REMEMBER, TURN AROUND DON'T DROWN!  
 
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 5 AM EDT, OR SOONER IF CONDITIONS  
WARRANT.  
 

 
 
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