The WBZ Weather Team has issued a NEXT Weather Alert for some heavy rainfall in association with the impending Tropical Storm Ophelia.
CBS Boston
As of 2 p.m. Friday, the National Hurricane Center upgraded this storm to “Ophelia”. With the NHC’s latest advisory, this tropical storm is just shy of hurricane status as it spins to the south of Cape Fear, North Carolina.
CBS Boston
The upgrade occurred after an Air Force Hurricane Hunter found the storm had strengthened Friday afternoon.
CBS Boston
The official National Hurricane Center forecast has Ophelia making landfall as a tropical storm in coastal North Carolina early on Saturday before losing a lot of its characteristics. Still, southern New England will not be immune from its impacts.
CBS Boston
Current forecasts are for as much as 3-6″ of rain in many areas between North Carolina and the Mid Atlantic.
CBS Boston
Farther north into New England, there is still some model discrepancy as to how much we are impacted. There is a good chance of between 1-3″ in most of Southern New England between Saturday and Monday.
CBS Boston
While that is a lot of rain, the intensity or rain rate shouldn’t exceed storm drains in most spots, so widespread flooding issues are not expected.
CBS Boston
Highest risk of steady/heavy rain comes Saturday midday through evening and again later on Sunday into Monday.
Just like it played out this previous week, we’ll clear out nicely for Tuesday, stretching right into Friday.
