Ophelia brings rain, wind to US northeast

Waves reached 19 feet (5 1/2 metres) well offshore but Martha’s Vineyard, Nantucket and Cape Cod were spared the brunt of the storm.

"It was pretty windy last night, but mostly just heavy sheets of rain," said Lt Roger Cadrin of the Hyannis Fire and Rescue Department. He said there were no reports of major storm-related damage in Hyannis.

Tropical storm warnings for the Massachusetts coast were discontinued as the storm headed for Nova Scotia and the North Atlantic, the National Hurricane Centre said. The storm had sustained wind of 60 mph (97 kph) but was losing its tropical characteristics, the centre said.

Meteorologists said Ophelia was about 70 miles ( 112.63 kilometres) southeast of Nantucket at 11 am. It was moving northeast at 21 mph (34 kph), and was expected to be near over Nova Scotia late yesterday.

Nantucket measured wind gusts up to 40 mph (65 kph) and Martha’s Vineyard got the most rain in the region, about 3 1/2 inches (nine centimetres), said meteorologist Mike Jackson at the National Weather Service in Taunton.

Ophelia formed more than a week ago off the coast of Florida, then wandered on a slow, looping path before running along the coast of North Carolina. That state had extensive damage, including beach erosion and ravaged homes and businesses, but overall the region was spared the devastating blow that had been feared. It is the 15th named storm and seventh named hurricane of this year’s Atlantic season, which ends November 30.

Elsewhere, the 17th tropical depression of the season had formed in the Atlantic east of the Windward Islands, the hurricane centre said. At 11 am, it was centred about 300 miles (485 kilometres) east of Barbados, more than 1,800 miles (2,900 kilometres) southeast of Miami, and was moving northwest at about nine mph (14 kph). The system’s top sustained wind speed was 35 mph (56 kph). The depression is near tropical storm strength and is moving northwestward east of the Lesser Antilles.

Interests in the Lesser Antilles were advised to monitor the progress of this depression. Watches or warnings may have been required for portions of the Lesser Antilles last night or today.

Strengthening is forecast and the depression was expected to become a tropical storm by late last night.