RICHMOND, VA – Governors in the Mid-Atlantic region have declared states of emergency in anticipation of Tropical Storm Ophelia, which began affecting North Carolina on Friday and is expected to impact parts of Virginia, Delaware, and Maryland.
Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin announced the state of emergency on Friday, warning residents to prepare for high surf, coastal flooding, and tropical storm force winds along the Chesapeake Bay and tidal areas of the Potomac River.
The National Weather Service has issued tropical storm and storm surge warnings for much of the impacted area. Additionally, a hurricane watch was announced late Friday for parts of eastern North Carolina after Air Force Reserve hurricane hunters determined that Ophelia had strengthened.
According to Air Force data, the storm was generating winds of 70 miles per hour and was projected to reach coastal areas Friday night. The storm is expected to bring high winds and rainfall through Saturday.
Maryland Governor Wes Moore also declared a state of emergency as the storm approached. The National Weather Service predicts that Ophelia could cause life-threatening storm surges and flooding from North Carolina to New Jersey through Sunday.