Tropical Storm Ophelia
Ophelia edging towards North Carolina on the evening of September 22
Meteorological history
FormedSeptember 22, 2023
ExtratropicalSeptember 24, 2023
DissipatedSeptember 26, 2023
Tropical storm
1-minute sustained (SSHWS/NWS)
Highest winds70 mph (110 km/h)
Lowest pressure981 mbar (hPa); 28.97 inHg
Overall effects
FatalitiesNone
Damage$450 million
Areas affectedEast Coast of the United States
[1]
Part of the 2023 Atlantic hurricane season

Tropical Storm Ophelia was a strong but short-lived tropical storm that impacted the East Coast of the United States in September 2023. The sixteenth named storm of the 2023 Atlantic hurricane season, Ophelia originated from a disturbance off the east coast of Florida before making landfall in North Carolina the next day as a strong tropical storm. Flood waters inundated coastal communities and roadways from North Carolina to New Jersey, and winds downed trees and power lines, and caused sporadic property damage.

Meteorological history

Map plotting the storm's track and intensity, according to the Saffir–Simpson scale
Map key
Saffir–Simpson scale
  Tropical depression (≤38 mph, ≤62 km/h)
  Tropical storm (39–73 mph, 63–118 km/h)
  Category 1 (74–95 mph, 119–153 km/h)
  Category 2 (96–110 mph, 154–177 km/h)
  Category 3 (111–129 mph, 178–208 km/h)
  Category 4 (130–156 mph, 209–251 km/h)
  Category 5 (≥157 mph, ≥252 km/h)
  Unknown
Storm type
triangle Extratropical cyclone, remnant low, tropical disturbance, or monsoon depression

On September 17, the NHC first noted the potential for tropical cyclone development near the southeast coast of the United States in its seven day outlook.[2] A few days later, a large area of disorganized showers and thunderstorms developed east of Florida within an offshore trough of low pressure.[3] A broad non-tropical area of low pressure formed within the area on September 21. Anticipating that the low could acquire some tropical or subtropical characteristics as it continued to form, coupled with its close proximity to the Southeastern United States, the NHC initiated advisories on it as Potential Tropical Cyclone Sixteen at 15:00 UTC that day.[4] The system's minimum barometric pressure fell appreciably on the morning of September 22, as it moved generally northward, still attached to a frontal feature. It was generating sustained tropical storm-force winds within its broad, asymmetric wind field, and the deep convection was concentrated to the north of the poorly formed, indistinct low level center of the circulation.[5] Later that day, it became detached from the frontal feature, and was designated Tropical Storm Ophelia.[6] The storm made landfall at 10:15 UTC, near Emerald Isle, North Carolina, about 25 mi (40 km) west-northwest of Cape Lookout, with winds of 70 mph (115 km/h).[7] Inland, Ophelia weakened as it moved northward through the state, and became a tropical depression that evening, after it crossed into southeast Virginia.[8] By 03:00 UTC on September 24, the system had lost its tropical characteristics, becoming a post-tropical cyclone.[9] The next day, its remnant circulation moved eastward off the New Jersey coast, as rains from the system swept northward into New England.[10] The remnants of Ophelia were absorbed by another offshore low-pressure area a few days later. This low pressure ended up causing severe floods in New York City on the evening of September 29. [11]

Preparations and impact

Rainfall map for Ophelia.

States of emergency were declared in Virginia, North Carolina, Maryland and New York ahead of the storm.[12][13] Schools were closed for the day in coastal communities in those states. Cape Hatteras National Seashore, Fort Raleigh National Historic Site, Moores Creek National Battlefield and Wright Brothers National Memorial were closed, and Pamlico Sound ferry service departures were curtailed.[14][15] Also, four Northeast Regional Amtrak train routes were modified due to the storm.[16] Major League Baseball games scheduled for September 23, at Nationals Park in Washington, D.C. and Yankee Stadium in New York City, were postponed due to the storm.[12] Additionally, on September 23, thoroughbred racing at Aqueduct in New York City, Pimlico in Baltimore, Maryland, and Delaware Park in Stanton, Delaware, was canceled.[17]

Floodwaters inundated communities and roadways along the Atlantic seaboard from North Carolina to New Jersey.[12][18][19] The highest storm surge was 3.67 ft (1.12 m) above mean sea level at Sewell's Point, Virginia.[18] Tropical storm‑force winds from Ophelia downed trees and power lines and caused sporadic property damage along its path.[19][20][21] Wind gusts during the storm reached up to 83 mph (134 km/h) southeast of Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina.[22] Five people were rescued in a sailing vessel in coastal North Carolina.[23]

Heavy rain also fell along the East Coast, with maximums of 7.65 in (194 mm) in Cape Carteret, North Carolina, [18] 9.51 in (242 mm) in Greenville, North Carolina,[24] and 7.47 in (190 mm) in Beach Haven, New Jersey.[25] Over 2 in (51 mm) of rain in major cities such as New York City, Washington, D.C. and Philadelphia.[25] At the height of storm, more than 70,000 electric utility customers in North Carolina and Virginia were without power,[12] with 13,000 power outages occurring in the state of New Jersey.[26] On September 25, slick roads resulted in several bridges in Staten Island having speed limits reduced.[27] On September 26, at Citi Field, a New York Mets game against the Miami Marlins was postponed due to unplayable field conditions from the heavy rainfall from the previous four days.[28]

The reinsurer Aon estimated the losses at $450 million.[1]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 Q3 Global Disaster Recap October 2023 (PDF) (Report). Aon. p. 16. Retrieved 2023-10-30..
  2. ↑ Brown, Daniel (September 17, 2023). Tropical Weather Outlook (Report). Miami, Florida: National Hurricane Center. Retrieved September 21, 2023.
  3. ↑ Pasch, Richard (September 20, 2023). Tropical Weather Outlook (Report). Miami, Florida: National Hurricane Center. Retrieved September 21, 2023.
  4. ↑ Brown, Daniel (September 21, 2023). Potential Tropical Cyclone Sixteen Discussion Number 1 (Report). Miami, Florida: National Hurricane Center. Retrieved September 21, 2023.
  5. ↑ Reinhart, Brad (September 22, 2023). Potential Tropical Cyclone Sixteen Advisory Number 5 (Report). Miami, Florida: National Hurricane Center. Retrieved September 22, 2023.
  6. ↑ Reinhart, Brad. "Tropical Storm Ophelia Intermediate Advisory Number 5A". National Hurricane Center and Central Pacific Hurricane Center. Retrieved 2023-09-23.
  7. ↑ Kelly, Larry; Cangialosi, John; Papin, Phillipe; Delgado, Sandy (September 23, 2023). Tropical Storm Ophelia Tropical Cyclone Update (Report). Miami, Florida: National Hurricane Center. Retrieved September 23, 2023.
  8. ↑ Berg, Robbie (September 23, 2023). Tropical Depression Ophelia Intermediate Advisory Number 10A (Report). Miami, Florida: National Hurricane Center. Retrieved September 23, 2023.
  9. ↑ Berg, Robbie (September 23, 2023). Post-Tropical Cyclone Ophelia Discussion Number 11 (Report). Miami, Florida: National Hurricane Center. Retrieved September 23, 2023.
  10. ↑ Yablonski, Steven (September 25, 2023). "Remnants of Ophelia still drenching the Northeast but improvements are slowly on the way". FOX Weather. Retrieved September 25, 2023.
  11. ↑ Masters, Jeff; Henson, Bob (September 29, 2023). "Tropical Storms Philippe and Rina do the Fujiwhara tango". New Haven, Connecticut: Yale Climate Connection. Retrieved October 2, 2023.
  12. 1 2 3 4 Elamroussi, Aya; Alonso, Melissa; Moshtaghian, Artemis (September 24, 2023). "Ophelia weakens to tropical depression as it dumps inches of rain along upper East Coast". CNN. Retrieved September 24, 2023.
  13. ↑ Governor Hochul Urges New Yorkers to Prepare for Potentially Heavy Rainfall and Tropical Storm Conditions This Weekend, Governor Kathy Hochul, September 21, 2023
  14. ↑ LaRoue, Jimmy; Alvarez-Wertz, Jane (September 21, 2023). "Cities, schools preparing for flooding, storm surges in Hampton Roads, NC". Portsmouth, Virginia: WAVY-TV. Retrieved September 22, 2023.
  15. ↑ Moores Creek National Battlefield reopens following Tropical Storm Ophelia, WECT, September 25, 2023
  16. ↑ "As of 10:10 am ET, due to inclement weather conditions along the route, Train 141 will terminate in Washington (WAS). For traveling assistance, please call or text 1-800-USA-RAIL". X (formerly Twitter). Retrieved September 24, 2023."As of 10:15 am ET, due to inclement weather conditions along the route, Train 93 will terminate in Washington (WAS). For traveling assistance, please call or text 1-800-USA-RAIL". X (formerly Twitter). Retrieved September 24, 2023."As of 9:15 am ET, due to inclement weather conditions along the route, Train 82 and Train 88 will originate in Washington (WAS). For traveling assistance, please call or text 1-800-USA-RAIL". X (formerly Twitter). Retrieved September 24, 2023.
  17. ↑ "Storm Cancels Racing at Aqueduct, Pimlico, Delaware". The Blood-Horse. Lexington, Kentucky: Blood-Horse Publications. September 22, 2023. Retrieved September 23, 2023.
  18. 1 2 3 Henson, Bob (September 23, 2023). "Heavy rains envelop the U.S. East Coast as Ophelia pushes inland". New Haven, Connecticut: Yale Climate Connections. Retrieved September 24, 2023.
  19. 1 2 Thornton, Claire; Santucci, Jeanine (September 23, 2023). "Tropical Storm Ophelia tracks up East Coast, downing trees and flooding roads". USA Today. Retrieved September 24, 2023.
  20. ↑ "Ophelia: ENC temporary road closures". Washington, North Carolina: WITN-TV. September 22, 2023. Retrieved September 25, 2023.
  21. ↑ "Ophelia wreaks havoc in DMV area: Downed trees, power outages and structural damage reported". Washington, D.C.: WJLA-TV. September 25, 2023. Retrieved September 25, 2023.
  22. ↑ Asherman, Jacob (September 25, 2023). Storm Summary Number 6 for Heavy Rainfall and High Winds Associated with Ophelia] (Report). College Park, Maryland: Weather Prediction Center. Retrieved September 25, 2023.
  23. ↑ Salahieh, Nouran (September 24, 2023). "Ophelia continues weakening as it moves up the East Coast, bringing heavy rain from North Carolina to New Jersey". CNN. Retrieved September 28, 2023.
  24. ↑ "Tropical Storm Ophelia (September 21-26, 2023) rainfall map". Tropical Cyclones in 2023. Weather Prediction Center. 2023-10-17. Retrieved 2023-10-18.
  25. 1 2 Asherman, Jacob (September 25, 2023). Storm Summary Number 6 for Heavy Rainfall and High Winds Associated with Ophelia (Report). College Park, Maryland: Weather Prediction Center. Retrieved September 25, 2023.
  26. ↑ Live N.J. power outage tracker: Thousands still in dark Sunday from Tropical Storm Ophelia, NJ.com, September 24, 2023
  27. ↑ Rain forecast throughout the day on Monday; speed restrictions lifted on bridges to New Jersey, Silive, September 25, 2023
  28. ↑ Fitzpatrick, Mike (September 27, 2023). "Marlins-Mets game postponed due to unplayable field conditions caused by tropical storm". AP News. Retrieved September 28, 2023.
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