287  
WTUS82 KRAH 230923  
HLSRAH  
NCZ011-027-028-043-078-089-231730-  
 
TROPICAL STORM OPHELIA LOCAL STATEMENT ADVISORY NUMBER 8  
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RALEIGH NC AL162023  
523 AM EDT SAT SEP 23 2023  
 
THIS PRODUCT COVERS CENTRAL NORTH CAROLINA  
 
**TROPICAL STORM OPHELIA WILL MAKE LANDFALL ON THE NORTH CAROLINA COAST  
EARLY THIS MORNING**  
 
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 140 MILES SOUTHEAST OF RALEIGH NC OR ABOUT 120 MILES  
EAST-SOUTHEAST OF FAYETTEVILLE NC  
- 34.3N 76.9W  
- STORM INTENSITY 70 MPH  
- MOVEMENT NORTH-NORTHWEST OR 345 DEGREES AT 9 MPH  
 
SITUATION OVERVIEW  
------------------  
 
TROPICAL STORM OPHELIA WILL MOVE INLAND IN THE VICINITY OF CAPE  
LOOKOUT THIS MORNING. OPHELIA WILL THEN MOVE SLOWLY NORTHWARD ACROSS  
EASTERN NC TODAY 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 THROUGH  
THIS EVENING, WITH THE GREATEST IMPACTS EXPECTED ALONG AND EAST OF  
INTERSTATE 95.  
 
POTENTIAL IMPACTS  
-----------------  
 
* FLOODING RAIN:  
POTENTIAL IMPACTS FROM THE FLOODING RAIN ARE STILL UNFOLDING ACROSS THE  
EASTERN PIEDMONT AND COASTAL PLAIN. REMAIN WELL GUARDED AGAINST LIFE-  
THREATENING FLOOD WATERS HAVING POSSIBLE EXTENSIVE IMPACTS. IF  
REALIZED, THESE IMPACTS INCLUDE:  
- MAJOR RAINFALL FLOODING MAY PROMPT MANY EVACUATIONS AND RESCUES.  
- 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  
STRESSED.  
- FLOOD WATERS CAN ENTER MANY STRUCTURES WITHIN MULTIPLE  
COMMUNITIES, SOME STRUCTURES BECOMING UNINHABITABLE OR WASHED  
AWAY. MANY PLACES WHERE FLOOD WATERS MAY COVER ESCAPE ROUTES.  
STREETS AND PARKING LOTS BECOME RIVERS OF MOVING WATER WITH  
UNDERPASSES SUBMERGED. DRIVING CONDITIONS BECOME DANGEROUS. MANY  
ROAD AND BRIDGE CLOSURES WITH SOME WEAKENED OR WASHED OUT.  
 
* WIND:  
POTENTIAL IMPACTS FROM THE MAIN WIND EVENT ARE NOW UNFOLDING ACROSS THE  
COASTAL PLAIN. REMAIN WELL SHELTERED FROM DANGEROUS WIND HAVING  
POSSIBLE SIGNIFICANT IMPACTS. IF REALIZED, THESE IMPACTS 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.  
 
* TORNADOES:  
POTENTIAL IMPACTS FROM TORNADOES ARE STILL UNFOLDING ACROSS THE COASTAL  
PLAIN. REMAIN WELL BRACED AGAINST A TORNADO EVENT HAVING POSSIBLE  
LIMITED IMPACTS. IF REALIZED, THESE 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  
----------------------------------  
 
* OTHER PREPAREDNESS INFORMATION:  
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.  
 
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 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 11 AM EDT, OR SOONER IF CONDITIONS  
WARRANT.  
 
 
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