Tropical Storm Ophelia gained strength as it churned toward the North Carolina coast on Friday, with a weekend of heavy rain and windy conditions expected throughout the mid-Atlantic.

Forecasters issued a hurricane watch for parts of eastern North Carolina, saying Ophelia showed the potential to gather even more strength as it passes over warm Gulf Stream waters.

The storm was expected to make landfall in North Carolina on Saturday morning and dump as much as 7 inches across portions of the state and into southeast Virginia.

The governors of North Carolina, Maryland and Virginia declared a state of emergency. 

‘As this storm has organized and strengthened, it’s becoming clear based on the latest forecasts that impacts to the commonwealth are likely,’ said Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin.

‘We want to ensure that all communities, particularly those with the greatest anticipated impact, have the resources they need to respond and recover from the effects of this storm.’

‘We are expecting an extended period of strong winds, heavy rainfall, and elevated tides,’ Maryland Gov. Wes Moore said on Friday. 

Beach-goers brave the weather and walk along the sand at the Virginia Beach Oceanfront

Beach-goers brave the weather and walk along the sand at the Virginia Beach Oceanfront

Beach-goers brave the weather and walk along the sand at the Virginia Beach Oceanfront 

Waves break along the jetty at Rudee Inlet in Virginia Beach on Friday as Tropical Storm Ophelia approaches the area

Waves break along the jetty at Rudee Inlet in Virginia Beach on Friday as Tropical Storm Ophelia approaches the area

Waves break along the jetty at Rudee Inlet in Virginia Beach on Friday as Tropical Storm Ophelia approaches the area

States across the East Coast are preparing for impact from Tropical Storm Ophelia. A spokeswoman for the Office of Emergency Management for the city of Annapolis, Maryland, ties a sandbag on Friday

States across the East Coast are preparing for impact from Tropical Storm Ophelia. A spokeswoman for the Office of Emergency Management for the city of Annapolis, Maryland, ties a sandbag on Friday

States across the East Coast are preparing for impact from Tropical Storm Ophelia. A spokeswoman for the Office of Emergency Management for the city of Annapolis, Maryland, ties a sandbag on Friday 

A Tropical Storm Warning has been issued by the National Hurricane Center (NHC) for areas including Cape Fear, Albemarle and Pamlico Sound in North Carolina as well as southern Delaware, southeastern Virginia and parts of Chesapeake Bay. 

A Storm Surge Warning is in effect for areas from Beaufort Inlet, North Carolina to Chincoteague, Virginia and parts of the Chesapeake Bay south of Colonial Beach, Virginia.

Storm Surge Warning means there is a danger of life-threatening inundation, from rising water moving inland from the coastline. The storm surges are expected to reach three to five feet.

Ophelia is forecasted to produce three to five inches of rainfall, with potential to reach seven inches across portions of eastern North Carolina and southeast Virginia.

Once the storm hits landfall in North Carolina it is expected to head north up the coast. By the time it reaches New York City, the worst of it will have passed.

Portions of the Mid-Atlantic into southern New England will see two to four inches of rain into Sunday.

Ophelia has reached maximum sustained wind levels of 60 miles per hour with higher gusts.

Some slight strengthening is possible before it hits landfall. It’s moving towards the north-northwest at 12mph. 

Tropical Storm Ophelia is now the 16th named storm of the 2023 Atlantic hurricane season. 

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration have predicted an ‘above normal’ Atlantic hurricane season due to record-warm sea surface temperatures.

Zach Wright, 12, skimboards in floodwaters from the Lafayette River in the Larchmont Neighborhood of Norfolk, Virgnia

Zach Wright, 12, skimboards in floodwaters from the Lafayette River in the Larchmont Neighborhood of Norfolk, Virgnia

Zach Wright, 12, skimboards in floodwaters from the Lafayette River in the Larchmont Neighborhood of Norfolk, Virgnia

Waves break along the jetty at Rudee Inlet in Virginia Beach, as Ophelia gains strength as it churns toward the North Carolina coast, promising a weekend of heavy rain and wind

Waves break along the jetty at Rudee Inlet in Virginia Beach, as Ophelia gains strength as it churns toward the North Carolina coast, promising a weekend of heavy rain and wind

Waves break along the jetty at Rudee Inlet in Virginia Beach, as Ophelia gains strength as it churns toward the North Carolina coast, promising a weekend of heavy rain and wind

A brewing tropical storm is threatening to hit the East Coast with strong winds and life-threatening storm surges

A brewing tropical storm is threatening to hit the East Coast with strong winds and life-threatening storm surges

A brewing tropical storm is threatening to hit the East Coast with strong winds and life-threatening storm surges

Ophelia officially became a tropical storm after winds reached levels over 39mph

Ophelia officially became a tropical storm after winds reached levels over 39mph

Ophelia officially became a tropical storm after winds reached levels over 39mph

Nancy Shoemaker and her husband Bob stopped by a waterside park in downtown Annapolis, Maryland’s capital, to pick up sandbags to help protect their waterfront home.

Last year, at the end of October, they experienced a big surge of water that came into their yard and even washed some sandbags away.

‘We’re hoping it won’t be that way this time,’ Nancy Shoemaker said. ‘If we have a lot of wind and a lot of surge, it can look like the ocean out there, so that’s a problem.’

Ophelia was already affecting water taxis in Annapolis, where driver Scott Bierman said service would shut down at 6 p.m. a the decision had been made to close Saturday.

‘We don’t operate when it’s going to endanger passengers and or damage vessels,’ Bierman said.

It’s not uncommon for one or two tropical storms – or even hurricanes – to form right off the East Coast each year, said Michael Brennan, director of the National Hurricane Center.

‘We’re right at the peak of hurricane season, we can basically have storms form anywhere across much of the Atlantic basin,’ Brennan said.

Beach-goers brave the weather and walk along the boardwalk at the Virginia Beach as the storm edges closer

Beach-goers brave the weather and walk along the boardwalk at the Virginia Beach as the storm edges closer

Beach-goers brave the weather and walk along the boardwalk at the Virginia Beach as the storm edges closer

The tops of trees blow sideways at the Virginia Beach. Ophelia was gaining strength as it churned toward the North Carolina coast

The tops of trees blow sideways at the Virginia Beach. Ophelia was gaining strength as it churned toward the North Carolina coast

The tops of trees blow sideways at the Virginia Beach. Ophelia was gaining strength as it churned toward the North Carolina coast 

Nancy and Bob Shoemaker, whose home is next to the water, load sandbags into their car in downtown Annapolis, Maryland on Friday in preparation for the approaching storm

Nancy and Bob Shoemaker, whose home is next to the water, load sandbags into their car in downtown Annapolis, Maryland on Friday in preparation for the approaching storm

Nancy and Bob Shoemaker, whose home is next to the water, load sandbags into their car in downtown Annapolis, Maryland on Friday in preparation for the approaching storm

A Tropical Storm Warning has been issued by the National Hurricane Center for areas including Cape Fear, Albemarle and Pamlico Sound in North Carolina as well as southern Delaware , southeastern Virginia and parts of Chesapeake Bay

A Tropical Storm Warning has been issued by the National Hurricane Center for areas including Cape Fear, Albemarle and Pamlico Sound in North Carolina as well as southern Delaware , southeastern Virginia and parts of Chesapeake Bay

A Tropical Storm Warning has been issued by the National Hurricane Center for areas including Cape Fear, Albemarle and Pamlico Sound in North Carolina as well as southern Delaware , southeastern Virginia and parts of Chesapeake Bay

It has been named Potential Tropical Cyclone 16 and is expected to become a tropical storm as it approaches the coast of North Carolina from Friday

It has been named Potential Tropical Cyclone 16 and is expected to become a tropical storm as it approaches the coast of North Carolina from Friday

It has been named Potential Tropical Cyclone 16 and is expected to become a tropical storm as it approaches the coast of North Carolina from Friday

Potential Tropical Cyclone 16 is expected to bring several inches of rain from Florida to the Northeast and New England

Potential Tropical Cyclone 16 is expected to bring several inches of rain from Florida to the Northeast and New England

Potential Tropical Cyclone 16 is expected to bring several inches of rain from Florida to the Northeast and New England

Scientists say climate change could result in hurricanes expanding their reach into mid-latitude regions more often, making storms like this month’s Hurricane Lee more common. 

One study simulated tropical cyclone tracks from pre-industrial times, modern times and a future with higher emissions. It found that hurricanes would track closer to the coasts including around Boston, New York and Virginia and be more likely to form along the Southeast coast.

North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper issued his state’s emergency declaration aiming to expedite preparations and help provide a swift response.

‘The storm´s path has been difficult to predict and we want to ensure that farmers, first responders and utility crews have the tools necessary to prepare for severe weather,’ Cooper said.

Schools in coastal areas of North Carolina and Virginia announced plans to dismiss students early Friday and cancel after-school and weekend activities.

The North Carolina Ferry System announced it was suspending several routes and the State Emergency Response Team planned to move to an enhanced watch Friday to ease coordination of resources, the governor’s office said.

Meanwhile, Hurricane Nigel was downgraded to a post-tropical cyclone centered about 640 miles northwest of the Azores, with maximum sustained winds of 70 mph.

There were no associated coastal watches or warnings as the storm moved northeast at 37 mph, the hurricane center said in its final update on the system Friday morning.

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