Western Reader
As Tropical Storm Ophelia continued to unleash its fury on the East Coast, residents of New York City were strongly advised to evacuate their basement apartments and seek higher ground.
Even though the storm had been downgraded to a post-tropical cyclone, it still posed significant dangers with its heavy rainfall and life-threatening surf.
After initially hitting near Emerald Isle in North Carolina, the storm brought winds of up to 70mph, resulting in widespread flooding and power outages. The storm surge also caused elevated water levels in parts of the Chesapeake Bay.
Despite the adverse weather conditions, resilient New Yorkers braved the rain to attend the Global Citizen Festival in Central Park. They enjoyed performances by renowned artists such as the Red Hot Chili Peppers and Lauryn Hill.
Not sure I would want to be this close with the waves pushing up this high🌊 This was while #Ophelia was impacting the northeast #NJwx pic.twitter.com/6eQ0JfYvVY
— WeatherNation (@WeatherNation) September 24, 2023
In a press release, authorities issued warnings about the potential for flooding in low-lying areas and poor drainage zones during periods of heavy rain. They also highlighted the high risk of life-threatening rip currents, large breaking waves, and rough surf at Atlantic-facing beaches. The storm’s swells were expected to generate deadly waves and rip current conditions, posing a significant threat to coastal communities.
As Ophelia moved north, it brought heavy rain and surf to New York, as well as causing power outages in North Carolina and New Jersey.
When the storm made landfall near Emerald Isle, it was almost at hurricane strength, resulting in power outages and flooded streets. States of emergency were declared in Virginia, North Carolina, and Maryland due to the storm’s impact.
Zach Iscol, New York City’s Emergency Management Commissioner, urged residents to stay vigilant and take necessary precautions. He reminded New Yorkers that despite the arrival of fall, the city was still in the middle of the Atlantic hurricane season. Iscol advised residents, especially those in flood-prone areas, to review their preparedness plans.
Powerful waves from Tropical Storm #Ophelia literally knocked people off their feet as they stood far too close to the seawall in North Wildwood, NJ over the weekend. pic.twitter.com/eyT9dHdYlv
— AccuWeather (@accuweather) September 25, 2023
The National Hurricane Center predicted additional rainfall of one to three inches on Monday morning, stretching across the northern Mid-Atlantic, southern parts of New York, and southern New England.
This could result in localized flash flooding, urban flooding, small stream flooding, and isolated river flooding.
In light of these warnings, residents living in basement apartments were advised to be prepared to relocate to higher ground to avoid dangerous flooding. The press release also encouraged the use of public transportation to prevent city dwellers from driving into flooded streets.
This article appeared in TheDailyBeat and has been published here with permission.
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