Tropical Storm Ophelia made landfall today, Saturday, sweeping across the Atlantic coast of the United States accompanied by heavy rainfall and strong winds, leading to widespread flooding and power outages. The National Weather Service reported that nearly eight million people across the Mid-Atlantic region, stretching from New York to South Carolina, were under storm and flood warnings starting from midday today.
The weather service added that some areas could see rainfall reaching up to 25 centimeters and winds exceeding 80 kilometers per hour, resulting in severe flooding in parts of North Carolina. After Ophelia made landfall near Emerald Isle in North Carolina around 6:15 PM Eastern Time, the tropical storm moved inland on a northern track, causing heavy rains and strong winds.
Washington, North Carolina, was one of the hardest-hit cities, as footage shared on social media showed floodwaters reaching homes and partially submerging vehicles in areas of the city along the Pamlico River.
