WIS News 10 - Columbia, South Carolina | Ophelia could threaten South Carolina next week

Ophelia could threaten South Carolina next week

(Miami) September 10, 2005 - Ophelia, which has regained minimal hurricane status, is centered about 255 miles east-northeast of Daytona Beach, Florida and about 240 miles south-southeast of Charleston, South Carolina.

At 11:00pm Eastern, it had winds of 75 miles per hour and was moving to the northeast at about nine miles per hour.

Forecasters say the erratic storm could possibly threaten the southeastern Atlantic coast from the Carolinas to northern Florida. Ophelia is the season's seventh Atlantic hurricane. Ophelia- (Forecast Path | Latest Advisory)

The South Carolina Emergency Management Division (SCEMD) has moved to Operating Condition 4, and is monitoring Ophelia closely. Ophelia could bring heavy rain, damaging winds, tornadoes and localized flooding to South Carolina.

"I don't want people to say, 'Whew, this one's going out to sea.' There's still a possibility that it could loop back," NHC meteorologist Jamie Rhome said.

Many Atlantic coast residents have learned from previous experiences and have already stocked up on batteries, water and nonperishable food.

Elsewhere in the Atlantic, Bermuda's tropical storm warning was discontinued as Hurricane Nate pulled away, and Hurricane Maria weakened into a tropical storm over colder north Atlantic waters. Neither posed a threat to land.
Nate- (Forecast Path | Latest Advisory)
Maria- (Forecast Path | Latest Advisory)

Maria and Nate were the fifth and sixth hurricanes of the Atlantic hurricane season, which began June 1 and ends November 30. Peak storm activity typically occurs from the end of August through mid-September.

Updated 12:10am by Bryce Mursch with AP