NORFOLK, Va. — Ophelia was downgraded from a tropical storm to a tropical depression hours after making landfall in North Carolina and moving across southeastern Virginia Saturday.
Around 8 p.m., the National Hurricane Center announced it lifted all storm surge warnings and tropical storm warnings in the area.
Just three hours earlier, the storm crossed into southeastern Virginia, with tropical storm conditions remaining over eastern North Carolina and other Mid-Atlantic areas. The storm's eye was about 50 miles south of Richmond with maximum sustained winds at 40 miles per hours, according to the National Hurricane Center.
The storm made landfall in Emerald Isle, North Carolina around 6:15 a.m. with estimated maximum winds of 70 miles per hour, according to the NHC. It is expected to move north through the coastal regions of Virginia and North Carolina Saturday, and should slice right through our area before heading back out to sea.
Two to four inches of rain is expected and locally higher amounts are possible, which could result in urban and poor drainage flooding. The highest rainfall totals are forecasted to be near the coast.
Wind gusts readhed up to 50 miles per hour near the coast early Saturday. Some downed trees and power lines causing scattered power outages were reported.
Moderate tidal flooding is possible with the high tides early Saturday and again Saturday afternoon. Yorktown could see moderate to major tidal flooding on Saturday.
The National Weather Service (NWS) issued a Tropical Storm Warning that spans all of Hampton Roads, the Eastern Shore, the Middle Peninsula and the Outer Banks of North Carolina. Several areas close to the water are under a Storm Surge Warning, meaning there's a danger of inundation, from rising water moving inland from the coastline,. According to NWS, surge-prone areas could see potential for two to four feet of inundation above ground.
A Tropical Storm Warning from Cape Lookout to Cape Fear in North Carolina has been discontinued, the National Hurricane Center said. The Storm Surge Warning south of Ocracoke Inlet, North Carolina westward along the coast has also been discontinued.