Hurricane Ophelia Hits 85 mph, Stationary Off S.C., N.C.

Hurricane Ophelia has gained strength, with hurricane-force winds of 85 mph with higher gusts and is expected to make landfall along the southeast Atlantic coast Sunday evening or Monday–but the National Hurricane Center’s latest report said the Ophelia was stationary and it was uncertain how long it would be before it began to move.

At 5 am EDT on Sunday a portion of the hurricane watch area from the Savannah River South Carolina northeastward to Edisto Beach S.C. has been discontinued. Ophelia is stationary and is expected to remain nearly stationary today. The National Hurricane Center said the hurricane watch may have to be shifted northward later Sunday.

Ophelia is a category one hurricane with little change in strength is forecast during the next 24 hours. Hurricane force winds extend outward up to 30 miles from the center, and tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 150 miles.

The center Ophelia was located near latitude 31.7 north, longitude 75.9 west, or about 250 miles east-southeast of Charleston, S.C. and about 245 miles south of Cape Hatteras, N.C.

A hurricane watch remains in effect for the southeast coast of the U.S. from north of Edisto Beach northeastward to Cape Lookout, N.C. The hurricane watch may have to be shifted northward later today. A hurricane watch means that hurricane conditions are possible within the watch area, generally within 36 hours.