ANNAPOLIS, Md. –
Almost a day after being downgraded from a tropical storm, Ophelia nonetheless threatened elements of the Northeast on Sunday with coastal flooding, life-threatening waves and heavy rain from Washington to New York Metropolis, the Nationwide Hurricane Middle stated.
As Ophelia weakened, a brand new tropical storm named Philippe brewed within the Atlantic.
Despite the fact that Ophelia was downgraded Saturday night time, meteorologists warned that swells generated by the storm would have an effect on the East Coast for the remainder of the weekend, possible inflicting harmful surf circumstances and rip currents. Ophelia was additionally anticipated to drop 1 to three inches (2.5 to 7.6 centimetres) of extra rain over elements of the Mid-Atlantic and New England. Remoted river flooding was additionally doable.
Ophelia was south of Washington on Sunday morning and was anticipated to proceed transferring northeast earlier than turning east after which weakening extra over the following two days, based on the hurricane centre. In the meantime, Philippe was 1,175 miles (1,890 kilometres) west of the Cabo Verde Islands, that are off the west coast of Africa. That storm had most sustained winds of fifty mph (75 km/h).
The Nationwide Climate Service stated quite a few New Jersey communities reported coastal flooding, together with, together with Sea Isle Metropolis and Brielle. 1000’s of individuals within the state remained with out energy Sunday. NJ.com reported greater than 6,000 prospects have been with out electrical energy Sunday morning, down from a excessive of 13,000.
Flooding and street closures have been additionally reported in coastal Delaware.
The storm got here ashore Saturday close to Emerald Isle, North Carolina, with near-hurricane-strength winds of 70 mph (113 km/h), however the winds weakened because the system travelled north, the hurricane centre stated.
Movies from social media confirmed vital flooding within the state’s riverfront communities corresponding to New Bern, Belhaven and Washington. A number of thousand North Carolina houses and companies remained with out electrical energy Sunday morning, based on poweroutage.us, which tracks utility experiences.
Even earlier than making landfall, Ophelia proved treacherous sufficient that 5 folks, together with three youngsters, needed to be rescued Friday night time by the Coast Guard. They have been aboard a 38-foot (12-metre) catamaran caught in uneven water and powerful winds whereas anchored off Cape Lookout, North Carolina.
On Saturday, Greenville police posted a video on Fb of an officer rescuing a small pit bull from floodwaters. Police stated the canine was tied to a fence and “simply inches from drowning” when an officer responded after somebody referred to as authorities. Animal safety authorities opened an investigation.
Elsewhere, a rescue crew helped the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Workplace evacuate 15 folks from a campground between the Pamlico River and the Chocowinity Bay, based on Brian Haines, a spokesperson for the North Carolina Division of Emergency Administration.
On the southern tip of North Carolina’s Outer Banks, organizers on Sunday have been lastly capable of open the long-running Beaufort Pirate Invasion, a weekend occasion centered on the 1747 Spanish assault in town. Winds tore down the large tent for a banquet deliberate for Saturday, and several other different tents have been broken or shredded.
In different developments, excessive winds compelled New York Metropolis officers to droop ferry service to Rockaway. Different ferries have been working on schedule.
The governors of North Carolina, Virginia and Maryland every declared a state of emergency on Friday.
Scientists say local weather change might end in hurricanes increasing their attain into mid-latitude areas extra typically, making storms like this month’s Hurricane Lee extra widespread.
One examine simulated tropical cyclone tracks from pre-industrial occasions, fashionable occasions and a future with larger emissions. It discovered that hurricanes would monitor nearer to the coasts, together with round Boston, New York Metropolis and Virginia, and could be extra prone to type alongside the Southeast coast.
In some areas the place the storm struck Saturday, the results have been modest.
Aaron Montgomery, 38, stated he observed a leak within the roof of his household’s new dwelling in Williamsburg, Virginia. They have been nonetheless capable of make the hour-long drive for his spouse’s birthday to Virginia Seashore, the place he stated the surf and wind have been sturdy however the rain had stopped.
“No leak in a roof is insignificant, so it is definitely one thing we now have to cope with Monday morning,” he stated.
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Ungar reported from Louisville, Kentucky. Mattise reported from Nashville, Tennessee. AP Radio reporter Jackie Quinn in Washington and AP writers Brian Witte in Annapolis, Maryland, Ron Todt in Philadelphia, Sudhin Thanawala in Atlanta, Christopher Weber in Los Angeles and David Collins in Hartford, Connecticut, contributed to this report.