Tropical Storm Ophelia Nears Florida

JACKSONVILLE BEACH, Fla. — Brisk wind and forceful rain moved Wednesday through this beachside community awaiting Tropical Storm Ophelia (search), sending tourists scurrying inland and driving surfers out of the churning Atlantic. The tropical depression off the coast strengthened into a tropical storm early Wednesday and could bring high winds and heavy rain to central and northern Florida over the next few days. The Jacksonville area is one of the few spots spared any serious damage from the last 13 months. "We have to wait and see what [Ophelia] is going to do. The possibilities are endless," said Steve Letro, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service (search) in Jacksonville. Without strong steering currents, it was impossible to say what path Ophelia would take or whether it would strengthen into a hurricane, with winds of at least 74 mph, Letro said. Some computer models had the storm moving farther east and away from the coast, others had it going west, closer to shore, and some showed it heading east and then looping back toward the state. At 5 p.m. EDT, Ophelia, the 15th named storm of the season, was centered 80 miles east-northeast of Cape Canaveral (search). It had top sustained winds of about 50 mph, up from 40 mph earlier in the day, and was nearly stationary. A tropical storm warning, which means winds exceeding 39 mph are possible within 24 hours, was canceled for areas south of Cocoa Beach but remained in effect north to Flagler Beach. A tropical storm watch was in effect from Flagler Beach to Fernandina Beach. A watch means that tropical storm conditions are possible within 36 hours. "This one is going to keep everybody on the edge of their seats for quite some time," Letro said. Ken Lloyd, general manager of a beachside restaurant and bar, was born during Hurricane Dora, which was the last hurricane to hit this beachside community, in 1964. "I'm worried about it. They just don't know what it is going to do," Lloyd said. In Volusia County, which suffered damage in three of last year's hurricanes, plans were being made to set up two shelters Thursday. "We're just opening them in an extreme abundance of caution," said Dave Byron, a county spokesman. Elsewhere in the Atlantic, Tropical Storm Nate intensified into a hurricane south of Bermuda, and Tropical Storm Maria was upgraded to a hurricane again over the open ocean. Neither was considered a threat to the United States. At 5 p.m., Nate had top sustained winds of 85 mph. It was centered about 200 miles south-southwest of Bermuda and was drifting northeast at 5 mph. It could pass near or just south of Bermuda by Thursday, forecasters said. Forecasters said new observations showed that Maria was again a hurricane with 80 mph winds. It was moving northeast at about 14 mph toward the colder waters of the north Atlantic and was centered about 875 miles east-northeast of Bermuda. Maria and Nate were the fifth and sixth hurricanes of the Atlantic season, which began June 1 and ends Nov. 30. Peak storm activity typically occurs from the end of August through mid-September.

Lets just hope it doesn't go across flordia and hit the gulf and go back up to NO and do more damage.

Lets just hope it doesn't go across flordia and hit the gulf and go back up to NO and do more damage. :iagree: They don't even need rain right now. Lets just hope nobody gets anymore this year. I just afraid this is just wishful thinking.

they need to come up with better names for storms. Ophelia?!?!?! How bout Tropical Storm Rawdog, or hurricane Papa O Gangsta. my ideas are so great...:D

Another storm... :nonod: hope everybody fairs well during this one...

they need to come up with better names for storms. Ophelia?!?!?! How bout Tropical Storm Rawdog, or hurricane Papa O Gangsta. my ideas are so great...:D You been drinkin' that "nor leans" water??? :lol:

gee the weather sucks up here in MI - been sunny and clear all week except a little rain this morning.. 77 and beautiful.. gee I wished I could brave hurricanes in Florida every year.. makes me want to retire my snow shovel and head south - NOT! 4 seasons is the only way to go.. what kind of a primodonna plays football in any other weather than fall and winter cold? oh wait the lions of course.. lol.. BOARD EM BACK UP BEE ANOTHER ONE'S COMING YOUR WAY.. :sorry:

I'm not boarding anything...If it hits, I want it to leave a clean slab behind.

I'm not boarding anything...If it hits, I want it to leave a clean slab behind. If it leaves anything behind. :lol:

I'm not boarding anything...If it hits, I want it to leave a clean slab behind. that's good - leave some pictures so we can say this is the guy who made fun of winter weather - alot of good that did him.. oh wait I have to go because I have to get ready for the next hurricane in Michigan - oh wait no is it a tsunami? oh not that either? oh no not a rain storm! i might need an umbrella.. mfp.. enjoy the hurricane down there foo'.. get a surf board and ride a wave or something..

:lol: ... :rofl3: :bowdown: you're killing me MP!! Hey if the storm comes through and levels everything, I'll build another, that's why I have insurance. You see, I don't worry about. I've lost everything before, so that is a fear I just don't have. Like many things, the anticipation and fear of something that might happen, are usually worse than the event. I've lived through the hurricane disaster before (Andrew). I know first hand what people in Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana are experiencing. I also know I can't stop it, but at least I ain't shoveling rain...so it's not as funny as y'all putting together the W ide O pen S hoveling Team!!!

I just have to :lol: at the W ide O pen S hoveling Team!!! Too funny!! But isn't that why God invented snow blowers and plow trucks? :D

I just have to :lol: at the W ide O pen S hoveling Team!!! Too funny!! But isn't that why God invented snow blowers and plow trucks? :D Snowblowers work great. I spent most of last winter looking for a good snowblower. The day I got one was the last snowsotrm we had and I dint even use it that day. So I would have to say they are awesome. :wink:

Looks like this one is heading towards Jeeps instead of Bee now!

Hasn't rained a drop. beautiful upper 70's and lower 80's all week. The outer banks are getting nailed continuously.