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.

The rain was expected to hit areas affected by last year’s Hurricanes Frances and Jeanne. Much of the region has recovered but some homes remain covered in blue tarps as owners await new roofs.

At 1000 BST, Ophelia had top sustained winds of about 40mph and was centred about 105 miles east of Cape Canaveral. It was drifting north-northwest at about 8mph.

Ophelia’s forecast appeared to keep it offshore through the weekend, though forecasters warned its path remained uncertain. “It’s been very erratic,” said Lt Dave Roberts, a Navy meteorologist at the National Hurricane Centre.

Two other storms were out in the open ocean Wednesday as the busy hurricane season continued.

Tropical Storm Nate was expected to strengthen south of Bermuda, while Hurricane Maria weakened to a tropical storm in the cooler waters of the North Atlantic.

Nate, the 14th named storm of the season, is centred about 260 miles south-southwest of Bermuda this morning with top sustained winds of about 70mph. Forecasters at the National Hurricane Centre said it was expected to become a hurricane later today.

“Perhaps by the end of the work week it could be posing a threat to Bermuda, but not the US,” hurricane specialist Stacy Stewart said.

Maria was centred 705 miles east-northeast of Bermuda this morning and was forecast to weaken further. Winds were 65mph, forecasters said.

Maria was the fifth hurricane of the Atlantic hurricane season. The season began June 1 and ends on November 30. Peak storm activity typically occurs from the end of August through mid-September.

Hurricane Katrina hit South Florida on August 25, killing 11 people and leaving hundreds of thousands without power, before striking the Gulf Coast last week.