Tropical Storm Ophelia (2023)

{{Storm path|Ophelia 2023 path.png|colors=new}}

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.{{cite report|last=Brown|first=Daniel|url=https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/xgtwo/gtwo_archive.php?current_issuance=202309180238&basin=atl&fdays=7|title=Tropical Weather Outlook|date=September 17, 2023|publisher=National Hurricane Center|location=Miami, Florida|access-date=September 21, 2023}} A few days later, a large area of disorganized showers and thunderstorms developed east of Florida within an offshore trough of low pressure.{{cite report|last=Pasch|first=Richard|url=https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/xgtwo/gtwo_archive.php?current_issuance=202309202037&basin=atl&fdays=7|title=Tropical Weather Outlook|date=September 20, 2023|publisher=National Hurricane Center|location=Miami, Florida|access-date=September 21, 2023}} 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.{{cite report|title=Potential Tropical Cyclone Sixteen Discussion Number 1|last=Brown|first=Daniel|date=September 21, 2023|url=https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2023/al16/al162023.discus.001.shtml?|publisher=National Hurricane Center|location=Miami, Florida|access-date=September 21, 2023}} 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.{{cite report|title=Potential Tropical Cyclone Sixteen Advisory Number 5|last=Reinhart|first=Brad|date=September 22, 2023|url=https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2023/al16/al162023.public.005.shtml?|publisher=National Hurricane Center|location=Miami, Florida|access-date=September 22, 2023}} Later that day, it became detached from the frontal feature, and was designated Tropical Storm Ophelia.{{Cite web |last=Reinhart |first=Brad |title=Tropical Storm Ophelia Intermediate Advisory Number 5A |url=https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2023/al16/al162023.public_a.005.shtml? |access-date=2023-09-23 |website=National Hurricane Center and Central Pacific Hurricane Center}} The storm made landfall at 10:15 UTC, near Emerald Isle, North Carolina, about {{convert|25|mi|km|abbr=on|round=5}} west-northwest of Cape Lookout, with winds of {{convert|70|mph|km/h|abbr=on|round=5}} and a minimum pressure of {{convert|981|mbar|inHg|abbr=on|sigfig=4|comma=off}}.{{cite report|title=Tropical Storm Ophelia Tropical Cyclone Update|last1=Kelly|first1=Larry|last2=Cangialosi|first2=John|last3=Papin|first3=Phillipe|last4=Delgado|first4=Sandy|date=September 23, 2023|url=https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2023/al16/al162023.update.09231019.shtml?|publisher=National Hurricane Center|location=Miami, Florida|access-date=September 23, 2023}} By 0:00 UTC on September 24, the system had lost its tropical characteristics, becoming a post-tropical cyclone after crossing into southeast Virginia. The next day, its remnant circulation moved eastward off the New Jersey coast, as rains from the system swept northward into New England.{{cite news|title=Remnants of Ophelia still drenching the Northeast but improvements are slowly on the way|last=Yablonski|first=Steven|date=September 25, 2023|url=https://www.foxweather.com/weather-news/ophelia-northeast-new-england-mid-atlantic|publisher=FOX Weather|access-date=September 25, 2023}} 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.{{cite web|title=Tropical Storms Philippe and Rina do the Fujiwhara tango|last1=Masters|first1=Jeff|last2=Henson|first2=Bob|date=September 29, 2023|publisher=Yale Climate Connection|location=New Haven, Connecticut|url=https://yaleclimateconnections.org/2023/09/tropical-storms-philippe-and-rina-do-the-fujiwhara-tango/|access-date=October 2, 2023}}

File:Ophelia 2023 rainfall map.gif

States of emergency were declared in Virginia, North Carolina, Maryland and New York ahead of the storm.{{Cite news |last1=Elamroussi|first1=Aya|last2=Alonso|first2=Melissa|last3=Moshtaghian|first3=Artemis|url=https://www.cnn.com/2023/09/23/weather/east-coast-tropical-storm-threat-saturday/index.html|title=Ophelia weakens to tropical depression as it dumps inches of rain along upper East Coast|date=September 24, 2023|publisher=CNN|access-date=September 24, 2023}}[https://www.governor.ny.gov/news/governor-hochul-urges-new-yorkers-prepare-potentially-heavy-rainfall-and-tropical-storm Governor Hochul Urges New Yorkers to Prepare for Potentially Heavy Rainfall and Tropical Storm Conditions This Weekend], Governor Kathy Hochul, September 21, 2023 Schools were closed for the day in coastal communities in those states. Also, four Northeast Regional Amtrak train routes were modified due to the storm.{{cite web |title=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. |url=https://twitter.com/AmtrakNECAlerts/status/1705223398438088875 |website=X (formerly Twitter) |access-date=September 24, 2023 |language=en}}{{cite web |title=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. |url=https://twitter.com/AmtrakNECAlerts/status/1705224260845768801 |website=X (formerly Twitter) |access-date=September 24, 2023 |language=en}}{{cite web |title=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. |url=https://twitter.com/AmtrakNECAlerts/status/1705571519886160365 |website=X (formerly Twitter) |access-date=September 24, 2023 |language=en}} Floodwaters inundated communities and roadways along the Atlantic seaboard from North Carolina to New Jersey.{{cite web|last=Henson|first=Bob|title=Heavy rains envelop the U.S. East Coast as Ophelia pushes inland|url=https://yaleclimateconnections.org/2023/09/heavy-rains-envelop-the-u-s-east-coast-as-ophelia-pushes-inland/|date=September 23, 2023|publisher=Yale Climate Connections|location=New Haven, Connecticut|access-date=September 24, 2023}}{{cite news|last1=Thornton|first1=Claire|last2=Santucci|first2=Jeanine|date=September 23, 2023|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2023/09/23/tropical-storm-ophelia-live-updates-nhc-forecast/70944549007/|title=Tropical Storm Ophelia tracks up East Coast, downing trees and flooding roads|newspaper=USA Today|access-date=September 24, 2023}} The reinsurer Aon estimated the losses at $450 million.{{cite report |language=en |url=https://www.aon.com/getmedia/7107985e-43d8-412b-a674-7722112cc2b0/20231018-q3-2023-catastrophe-recap.pdf |title=Q3 Global Disaster Recap October 2023 |publisher=Aon |pages=16|access-date=2023-10-30}}.

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.{{Cite news |last1=LaRoue |first1=Jimmy |last2=Alvarez-Wertz |first2=Jane |date=September 21, 2023 |title=Cities, schools preparing for flooding, storm surges in Hampton Roads, NC |url=https://www.wavy.com/weather/severe-weather/cities-preparing-for-flooding-storm-surges-in-hampton-roads-nc/ |access-date=September 22, 2023 |publisher=WAVY-TV |location=Portsmouth, Virginia |language=en-US}}[https://www.wect.com/2023/09/21/moores-creek-national-battlefield-close-due-inclement-weather/ Moores Creek National Battlefield reopens following Tropical Storm Ophelia], WECT, September 25, 2023

The highest storm surge was {{cvt|3.67|ft|m}} above mean sea level at Sewell's Point, Virginia. Tropical storm‑force winds from Ophelia downed trees and power lines and caused sporadic property damage along its path.{{cite news|date=September 22, 2023|url=https://www.witn.com/2023/09/23/ophelia-enc-temporary-road-closures/|title=Ophelia: ENC temporary road closures|publisher=WITN-TV|location=Washington, North Carolina|access-date=September 25, 2023}}{{cite news|date=September 25, 2023|title=Ophelia wreaks havoc in DMV area: Downed trees, power outages and structural damage reported|publisher=WJLA-TV|location=Washington, D.C.|url=https://wjla.com/news/local/tropical-storm-ophelia-damage-depression-dc-md-va-landfall-wet-windy-weather-this-weekend-national-hurricane-center-wind-gusts-maryland-virgina-tornado-risk-flooding-potomac-river-chesapeake-bay|access-date=September 25, 2023}} Five people were rescued in a sailing vessel in coastal North Carolina.{{Cite web |last=Salahieh |first=Nouran |date=September 24, 2023 |title=Ophelia continues weakening as it moves up the East Coast, bringing heavy rain from North Carolina to New Jersey |url=https://www.cnn.com/2023/09/24/weather/ophelia-storm-threat-north-carolina-new-york/index.html |access-date=September 28, 2023 |website=CNN |language=en}} Rainfall totals reached {{convert|7.65|in|mm|abbr=on}} in Cape Carteret, North Carolina, and {{cvt|9.51|in|mm|abbr=on|0}} in Greenville, North Carolina.{{cite web |language=en |url=https://www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/tropical/rain/ophelia2023filledrainblk.gif |title=Tropical Storm Ophelia (September 21-26, 2023) rainfall map |work=Tropical Cyclones in 2023 |date=2023-10-17 |publisher=Weather Prediction Center |access-date=2023-10-18}} An EF0 tornado occurred in Belvidere, North Carolina early on September 23. {{cite report|author=National Weather Service in Wakefield, Virginia|title=North Carolina Event Report: EF0 Tornado|url=https://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/stormevents/eventdetails.jsp?id=1141112|publisher=National Centers for Environmental Information|year=2023|access-date=December 18, 2023}} At the height of storm, more than 70,000 electric utility customers in North Carolina and Virginia were without power.

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, while a game on September 24 at Citizens Bank Park was delayed for five hours.[https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/sports/mlb/philadelphia-phillies/rain-pushes-sundays-phillies-mets-game-from-afternoon-to-evening/3652895/?amp=1 Rain pushes Sunday's Phillies-Mets game from afternoon to evening], NBC 10 Philadelphia, September 24, 2023 Additionally, on September 23, thoroughbred racing at Aqueduct in New York City, Pimlico in Baltimore, Maryland, and Delaware Park in Stanton, Delaware, was canceled.{{cite magazine |date=September 22, 2023 |url=https://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/272052/storm-cancels-racing-at-aqueduct-pimlico-delaware |title=Storm Cancels Racing at Aqueduct, Pimlico, Delaware |magazine=The Blood-Horse |publisher=Blood-Horse Publications |access-date=September 23, 2023 |location=Lexington, Kentucky}} In preparation for the storm, Cape May County Park & Zoo closed and the Cape May–Lewes Ferry was suspended on September 23.[https://www.cbsnews.com/amp/philadelphia/news/ophelia-tropical-storm-philadelphia-nj-pa-de-flights-travel-airport-cancellations-closures/ Ophelia having impacts on travel, events: what's open, what's closed?], CBS Philadelphia, September 23, 2023

Heavy rain also fell along the Mid-Atlantic, with state maximums occurred at Huntingtown, Maryland; Millsboro, Delaware; and Carlisle, Pennsylvania, and a regional maximum at {{convert|5.63|in|mm|abbr=on}} in Toms River, New Jersey.[https://weather.com/safety/hurricane/news/2023-09-22-tropical-storm-ophelia-forecast-mid-atlantic Tropical Storm Ophelia Spread Flooding, Gusty Winds Up The East Coast (RECAP)], The Weather Channel, September 24, 2023 A person was injured in Washington D.C. when a tree fell on a Metrobus. https://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/tropical-storm-ophelia-brings-winds-rain-to-dc-area/3429499/?amp=1 Tropical storm Ophelia brings winds, rain to DC area], NBC Washington, September 23, 2023 In Ocean City, Maryland, wind gusts reached {{convert|48|mph|kph|abbr=on}}, causing $21,000 in damage throughout the city,[https://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/stormevents/eventdetails.jsp?id=1143151 Storm Event Report: Wind Gust], NCEI with a {{convert|40|mph|kph|abbr=on}} wind gust in Salisbury, Maryland also causing $21,000 in damage.[https://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/stormevents/eventdetails.jsp?id=1143132 Storm Event Report: Wind Gust], NCEI Over 13,000 power outages occurred in the state of New Jersey alone, where wind gusts reached as high as {{convert|62|mph|kph|abbr=on}} in North Beach Haven.[https://www.nj.com/weather/2023/09/tropical-storm-ophelia-lashes-nj-with-wind-rain-after-making-landfall-in-nc-latest-forecast.html?outputType=amp Tropical Storm Ophelia lashes N.J. with wind, rain after making landfall in N.C. Latest forecast.], NJ.com, September 23, 2023[https://www.nj.com/weather/2023/09/live-nj-power-outage-tracker-thousands-still-in-dark-sunday-from-tropical-storm-ophelia.html Live N.J. power outage tracker: Thousands still in dark Sunday from Tropical Storm Ophelia], NJ.com, September 24, 2023 On September 25, slick roads resulted in several bridges in Staten Island having speed limits reduced.[https://www.silive.com/crime-safety/2023/09/wet-morning-commute-speed-restrictions-in-place-on-all-bridges-on-staten-island.html?outputType=amp Rain forecast throughout the day on Monday; speed restrictions lifted on bridges to New Jersey], Silive, September 25, 2023 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.{{Cite news |last=Fitzpatrick |first=Mike |date=September 27, 2023 |title=Marlins-Mets game postponed due to unplayable field conditions caused by tropical storm |url=https://apnews.com/article/marlins-mets-postponed-tropical-storm-ophelia-abec6c447cf00b2c3840e351ca8830d8 |access-date=September 28, 2023 |work=AP News |language=en}}

{{portal|Tropical cyclones}}

• Weather of 2023
• Tropical cyclones in 2023
• Other tropical cyclones named Ophelia
• Timeline of the 2023 Atlantic hurricane season
• List of North Carolina hurricanes (2000–present)
• Hurricane Diana (1984) – made landfall in North Carolina as a Category 2 hurricane, moved offshore and affected similar areas
• Tropical Storm Ana (2015) – off-season storm that struck South Carolina
• Tropical Storm Bertha (2020) – a rapidly forming and short-lived off-season tropical storm that affected the Eastern United States

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Category:2023 Atlantic hurricane season