Tropical storm Ophelia threatens Florida coast

Florida’s Atlantic coast braced for the arrival of a tropical storm today, two weeks after Hurricane Katrina first hit the state.

Tropical Storm Ophelia threatened to dump heavy rains, prompting tropical storm warnings along a 100-mile stretch from Sebastian Inlet to Flagler Beach. Up to five inches were expected over the next few days from central Florida to south-eastern Georgia, with some isolated areas possibly getting eight inches.