Tropical storm Ophelia projected path and timeline: How long will it impact the east coast?

Tropical storm Ophelia has made landfall on the east coast of the US. How long will the storm last and which states will be impacted?

NOAA

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Maite joined the AS USA in 2021, bringing her experience as a research analyst investigating illegal logging to the team. Maite’s interest in politics propelled her to pursue a degree in international relations and a master's in political philosophy. At AS USA, Maite combines her knowledge of political economy and personal finance to empower readers by providing answers to their most pressing questions.

Update: Sep 23rd, 2023 13:18 EDT

Tropical storm Ophelia has made landfall on the east coast, bringing high wind and rain to states across the mid-Atlantic.

The first states to be impacted were North Carolina, from which the storm will travel north to Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, and the southern tip of New Jersey. The storm is likely to return to sea by Monday afternoon, but until then, the National Weather Service (NWS) has issued various warnings in areas that will be impacted over the weekend.

11am September 23rd Key Messages for Tropical Storm #Ophelia.

Tropical storm conditions expected along parts of the southeastern & mid-Atlantic today. Life-threatening flash-flooding also anticipated for E North Carolina and SE Virginia.

Latest: https://t.co/Dl4SklCoht pic.twitter.com/egsaKmL3DK
— National Hurricane Center (@NHC_Atlantic) September 23, 2023

NWS issues storm surge and tropical storm warnings in North Carolina and Virginia

The NWS continues to have active warnings in areas across Delaware, North Carolina, and Virginia.

NWS Warnings, Saturday 12:30 p.m.

Storm surge warnings are active in:

Ocracoke Inlet, North Carolina to Chincoteague, Virginia
Chesapeake Bay south of Colonial Beach, Virginia
The Neuse and Pamlico Rivers
The Pamlico and Albemarle Sounds

Tropical storm warnings are active in:

East of Cape Lookout, North Carolina to Fenwick Island, Delaware
Albemarle and Pamlico Sounds
Tidal Potomac south of Cobb Island
Chesapeake Bay south of North Beach

What is a storm surge warning?

The NWS issues a storm surge warning when areas are under threat of “life-threatening inundation, from rising water moving inland from the coastline, during the next 36 hours in the indicated locations.” If an evacuation order is called by local officials, those in the affected areas should heed the warning and leave the area until it is deemed safe to return.

What is a tropical storm warning?

A tropical storm warning is issued by the NWS when a storm will make landfall with sustained maximum winds around 50 mph (85 km/h).

SEP 23: Here is the last tropical update on TS #Ophelia from the National Hurricane Center: https://t.co/C2sVaaIrVP

For the latest forecast, please visit: https://t.co/HwaVRhSa8B and from your local weather service office at https://t.co/sB0xAbqJD2
— National Hurricane Center (@NWSNHC) September 23, 2023

Flood warnings continue to be a life-threatening

3 NFL Week 3 games could be affected by severe weather

WEATHER

Tropical storm warning for the East Coast

In addition to storm surge, heavy rain could lead to flash floods from North Carolina to New Jersey, and those in these areas should keep up to date as authorities provide new information on the storm.

Eastern North Carolina and southeastern Virginia are expected to receive 3 to 8 inches of rain. The NWS forecasts that the remaining areas of the mid-Atlantic will see between 2 and 4 inches by Sunday, and on Monday, New York and southern New England could experience lighter rainfall anywhere between 1 to 3 inches.