Tropical Storm 16 was given the name Ophelia Friday afternoon as it gained strength in the Mid-Atlantic and made its way up the East Coast.
Ophelia took shape south of North Carolina and was moving north at 10–15 mph, the Weather Channel reported around 3 p.m. The storm is forecasted to produce heavy winds, rain and accumulation along the Eastern Seaboard going into the weekend.
That may lead to a messy few days in the tri-state area. The Jersey Shore could see Saturday flooding and 60 mph winds, according to NBC News.
NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER
Arrival time of tropical-storm-force winds, as of Friday, Sept. 22, 2023.
The Weather Channel says New York City will likely see rainfall late Friday continuing into Monday. 1010 WINS predicts a chilly Saturday with 35 mph winds, a high of 60 degrees and sporadic rain throughout the weekend as the storm creeps along. The heaviest showers are expected to come during the day Saturday.
Ophelia is the 15th named storm of the 2023 Atlantic hurricane season — 11 of which have occurred since Aug. 20. A 16th storm that formed earlier in the year wasn’t given a moniker.
Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin isn’t taking the storm lightly.
“I declared a State of Emergency in advance of Potential Tropical Cyclone 16,” Youngkin said on social media. “I encourage all Virginians and visitors to keep up with the latest forecast for their area from a trusted source, make a plan, and have their emergency kits ready.”
Emergency Management Officials in North Carolina warned residents in the eastern and central part of the state that “gusty winds combined with saturated soils could result in downed trees and power outages, along with the possibility of flash flooding and coastal flooding.”
The Atlantic hurricane season ends Nov. 30, according to the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration.
Brian Niemietz
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