On the list of names for tropical storms and hurricanes, we’re down to the letter “O” in the alphabet. Tropical Depression Ophelia has been downgraded to a Tropical Depression. It will continue moving up the East Coast to New Jersey, bringing gusty winds and pockets of moderate to heavy rain. Further impacts from this storm should be relatively minor.
Because the wind from Ophelia has not been that strong, there is a relatively low number of customers that have lost power. At 11 pm Saturday, poweroutages.us is reporting 6,435 customers without power in VA, 4,473 in Maryland and North Carolina is down to 1,650. The state with the most power outages at 11 pm Sat. is Missouri at 10,122 where they have had some severe thunderstorm wind damage.
What’s left of the storm will turn to the northeast and head out to sea. Ophelia could still produce gusty winds and some heavy showers in southern New England.
U.S. Rainfall QPF (from WPC)
![[Image of WPC QPF U.S. rainfall potential]](https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/storm_graphics/AT16/refresh/AL1623WPCQPF+gif/083500WPCQPF_sm.gif)
Forecast Rainfall from Ophelia
Here’s forecast rainfall from Ophelia. Dark green is 2″ or more, Light green is 1-2″. The East and Northeast has seen above average rainfall this summer.
Storm surge (change in the water level of the ocean) will reach 2-5 feet above average along the North Carolina and Virginia Coasts.
The heaviest rain and highest flash flood potential will be in eastern North Carolina, but the risk of a flash flood exists from eastern South Carolina to Massachusetts.
Here’s the Forecast Discussion, the Public Advisory, the latest weather observations from North Carolina and a North Carolina Weather Map. Virginia weather observations. Virginia weather map.
Saturday morning – buoys off the North Carolina Coast were getting wind gusts up to 55 mph.
