List of Storms in The 2005 Atlantic Hurricane Season - Hurricane Ophelia

Hurricane Ophelia

Category 1 hurricane (SSHS)
Duration September 6 – September 17
Peak intensity 85 mph (140 km/h), 976 mbar (hPa)

Tropical Depression Sixteen formed over the northern Bahamas on September 6. Early on September 7, it organized into Tropical Storm Ophelia, becoming a hurricane the next day. It churned nearly stationary for two days off the coast of Florida where significant coastal erosion resulted from the churning waves. On September 12, the storm began moving slowly toward North Carolina, at times nearly stalling and alternating between tropical storm and hurricane intensity. The hurricane did not make landfall, although the western eyewall reached the coastal areas of North Carolina, causing extensive damage in the Outer Banks and around Cape Fear. Ophelia moved north and became extratropical late on September 17 near Nova Scotia, but it continued northeastward, producing strong winds and heavy rain over Atlantic Canada.

Only three fatalities were reported, one direct death in Florida from high surf, one indirect death in a traffic accident in North Carolina and a second indirect death due to a fall in Nova Scotia. Damage is estimated at around $70 million, mostly in North Carolina but also in the Bahamas and Nova Scotia and on the Florida coast. While the storm was initially estimated to have caused as much as $1 billion in damages, that number was determined to be a significant overestimate.

  • The NHC's archive on Hurricane Ophelia

Read more about this topic:  List Of Storms In The 2005 Atlantic Hurricane Season

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