Tropical Storm Ophelia (2023)

Basin

North Atlantic

Dates

September 21, 2023 to September 24, 2023

Peak strength

Tropical Storm, 60 kt (69 mph)

Lowest pressure

981 mb (28.97 inHg)

Landfall

Yes

Accumulated cyclone energy

1.5

Tropical-storm-force wind reached

270 nmi (500 km, 311 mi) from the center at its widest

Eyewall radius at its peak

60 nmi (111 km, 69 mi)

Overall size

210 nmi (389 km, 242 mi) to the outermost closed isobar

Peak gust in the best track

75 kt (86 mph)

Fastest the center moved

14 kt (16 mph)

Identifier

AL162023

Radar at KMHX as it neared land, Sep 23, 10:15 UTC

The sources count different things and are not added together.

Landfall points the US agencies flagged in the best track. The nearest town is named from the site’s gazetteer, not from the report.

NOAA’s Storm Events database, the record National Weather Service offices compile months after a storm, as compiled March 2026.

Deaths

0 (0 direct, 0 indirect)

Injuries

0

Property damage

$91,000

Crop damage

$2,250

Events recorded

130 in 31 reports from 8 states and marine areas

State by state

What was recorded

54 heavy rain, 25 coastal flood, 21 tropical storm, 14 flash flood, 10 marine tropical storm, 3 high wind, 1 tornado, 1 tropical depression, 1 marine thunderstorm wind.

1 tornado recorded in the United States, strongest first.

The strongest winds National Weather Service offices recorded with this storm. An estimated figure is a forecaster’s judgment from the damage, not an instrument reading.

From the Storm Events narratives, unedited.

Several mesonets across the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay including 3rd Island, First Landing, and Lynnhaven Inlet Light measured tropical storm force winds of 34 to 54 knots between 12:50 PM EST on September 22 to 5:50 PM EST on September 23 from Tropical Storm Ophelia.

Chesapeake Bay From Little Creek, Va, To Cape Henry, Va, Including The Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel, Atlantic North · Marine Tropical Storm · Sep 22, 17:50 UTC

Several mesonet stations across the middle Chesapeake Bay including New Point Comfort and Rappahannock Shoal measured tropical storm force winds of 34 to 48 knots between 2 PM EST on September 22 and 7:10 AM EST on September 23 from Tropical Storm Ophelia.

Chesapeake Bay Windmill Pt To New Pt Comfort Va, Atlantic North · Marine Tropical Storm · Sep 22, 19:00 UTC

Tropical Storm Ophelia tracked northward across east central North Carolina and up through central Virginia from early Saturday morning, September 23 into early Sunday morning, September 24. The combination of high pressure to the north and Ophelia resulted in strong northeast, east and then southeast winds. The Ocean City Airport ASOS measured a peak gust of 42 knots (48 miles per hour) at 2:17 AM EST on September 23. Tropical storm force winds of 34 to 42 knots were observed between 3 PM EST on September 22 and 7:30 AM EST on September 23 from Tropical Storm Ophelia. Additionally, broadcast media reported roof damage was reported on a condo building at 5 AM EST on September 23 and a fallen tree was reported on mPING at 6:59 AM EST on September 23.

Maryland Beaches, Maryland · Tropical Storm · Sep 22, 20:00 UTC

Tropical Storm Ophelia tracked northward across east central North Carolina and up through central Virginia from early Saturday morning, September 23 into early Sunday morning, September 24. The combination of high pressure to the north and Ophelia resulted in strong northeast, east and then southeast winds. The Norfolk International Airport ASOS measured a peak gust to 48 knots (55 miles per hour) at 6:14 PM EST on September 22. A peak gust to 40 knot (46 mph) was observed at a personal weather station in the City of Portsmouth, VA at 9:03 PM EST on September 22. Tropical storm force winds of 34 to 48 knots were observed between 3 PM EST on September 22 and 2 AM EST on September 23 from Tropical Storm Ophelia.

Norfolk, Virginia · Tropical Storm · Sep 22, 20:00 UTC

Tropical Storm Ophelia tracked northward across east central North Carolina and up through central Virginia from early Saturday morning, September 23 into early Sunday morning, September 24. The combination of high pressure to the north and Ophelia resulted in strong northeast, east and then southeast winds. Several mesonets across western Currituck measured tropical storm force winds of 34 to 49 knots on September 23 including a mesonet at Cape Fear Drive and at Elliott Road. While the Currituck County Airport AWOS did not measure winds that high, it did measure a maximum gust of 36 knots (41 miles per hour) at 5:05 PM EST on September 22. When factoring in the AWOS and several mesonets throughout the county, two rounds of Tropical Storm force winds impacted western Currituck County between 4:30 PM EST on September 22 and 12:30 PM EST on September 23 from Tropical Storm Ophelia.

Western Currituck, North Carolina · Tropical Storm · Sep 22, 21:30 UTC

Tropical Storm Ophelia tracked northward across east central North Carolina and up through central Virginia from early Saturday morning, September 23 into early Sunday morning, September 24. The combination of high pressure to the north and Ophelia resulted in strong northeast, east and then southeast winds. The Salisbury ASOS measured a peak gust of 35 knots (40 miles per hour) at 11:49 PM EST on September 22nd. Tropical storm force winds to 35 knots were observed between 11:49 PM EST on September 22 and 6 AM EST on September 23 from Tropical Storm Ophelia. Additionally, broadcast media reported a large tree down on a home in Wicomico at 4 AM EST on September 23.

Wicomico, Maryland · Tropical Storm · Sep 23, 04:49 UTC

Tropical Storm Ophelia tracked northward across east central North Carolina and up through central Virginia from early Saturday morning, September 23 into early Sunday morning, September 24. The combination of high pressure to the north and Ophelia resulted in strong northeast, east and then southeast winds. The Chapanoke mesonet measured a maximum tropical storm force gust of 34 knots (39 miles per hour) at 11:15 AM EST on September 23. However, a separate mesonet at Harvey Point Road measured a tropical storm force gust to 47 knots at 8:40 AM EST on September 23 due to Tropical Storm Ophelia.

Perquimans, North Carolina · Tropical Storm · Sep 23, 13:40 UTC

Tropical Storm Ophelia tracked northward across east central North Carolina and up through central Virginia from early Saturday morning, September 23 into early Sunday morning, September 24. The combination of high pressure to the north and Ophelia resulted in strong northeast, east and then southeast winds. An NWS employee reported a power line down on U-460 westbound at 9:50 AM EST on September 23. The right lane was closed. Due to the sparse nature of mesonets in Southampton, VA, little exists with respect to winds. However, tropical storm force winds to 35 knots (40 miles per hour) were observed at the Dixie Farm Road mesonet at 3 PM EST on September 23rd from Tropical Storm Ophelia.

Southampton, Virginia · Tropical Storm · Sep 23, 14:50 UTC

Widespread roadway flooding was reported in the tidal areas of the county, and there were numerous road closures. Many homes and other buildings were surrounded by flood waters with some minor property damage occurring. The tide gauge at Lewes reached 7.01 feet MLLW, the tide gauge at Dewey Beach reached 5.00 feet MLLW, the tide gauge at Rosedale Beach reached 6.09 feet MLLW, the tide gauge at Indian River Inlet reached 5.75 feet MLLW, and the tide gauge at South Bethany reached 3.63 feet MLLW.

Delaware Beaches, Delaware · Coastal Flood · Sep 23, 16:00 UTC

Widespread roadway flooding was reported in the tidal areas of the county, and there were numerous road closures. Many homes and other buildings were surrounded by flood waters with some minor property damage occurring. The tide gauge at Lewes reached 7.01 feet MLLW, the tide gauge at Dewey Beach reached 5.00 feet MLLW, the tide gauge at Rosedale Beach reached 6.09 feet MLLW, the tide gauge at Indian River Inlet reached 5.75 feet MLLW, and the tide gauge at South Bethany reached 3.63 feet MLLW.

Inland Sussex, Delaware · Coastal Flood · Sep 23, 16:00 UTC

Widespread roadway flooding was reported in the tidal areas of the county, and there were numerous road closures. Many homes and other buildings were surrounded by flood waters with some minor property damage occurring. The tide gauge at Ocean City reached 6.41 feet MLLW, the tide gauge at Sea Isle City reached 6.99 feet MLLW, the tide gauge at Avalon reached 7.07 feet MLLW, and the tide gauge at Stone Harbor reached 7.26 feet MLLW.

Eastern Cape May, New Jersey · Coastal Flood · Sep 23, 16:00 UTC

Widespread roadway flooding was reported in the tidal areas of the county, and there were numerous road closures. Many homes and other buildings were surrounded by flood waters with some minor property damage occurring. The tide gauge at Ocean City reached 6.41 feet MLLW, the tide gauge at Sea Isle City reached 6.99 feet MLLW, the tide gauge at Avalon reached 7.07 feet MLLW, and the tide gauge at Stone Harbor reached 7.26 feet MLLW.

Western Cape May, New Jersey · Coastal Flood · Sep 23, 16:00 UTC

Moderate coastal flooding was observed in Washington DC early on Sep 24th for one high tide cycle with the DC Waterfront NOS tide gauge cresting at 5.83 ft MLLW. Lead time for this event was 34.8 hours.

District of Columbia, District of Columbia · Coastal Flood · Sep 24, 06:42 UTC

• Unnamed tropical stormNorth Atlantic · 2023Tropical Storm60 kt · 976 mb
• Tropical Storm ArleneNorth Atlantic · 2023Tropical Storm35 kt · 998 mb
• Tropical Storm BretNorth Atlantic · 2023Tropical Storm60 kt · 996 mb
• Tropical Storm CindyNorth Atlantic · 2023Tropical Storm50 kt · 1004 mb
• Hurricane DonNorth Atlantic · 2023Cat 165 kt · 986 mb
• Tropical Storm EmilyNorth Atlantic · 2023Tropical Storm45 kt · 998 mb
• Tropical Storm GertNorth Atlantic · 2023Tropical Storm50 kt · 998 mb
• Hurricane FranklinNorth Atlantic · 2023 · 3 deathsCat 4130 kt · 926 mb
• Tropical Storm HaroldNorth Atlantic · 2023Tropical Storm50 kt · 995 mb
• Hurricane IdaliaNorth Atlantic · 2023 · 8 deaths · $3.6 billionCat 4115 kt · 942 mb
• Tropical Storm JoseNorth Atlantic · 2023Tropical Storm55 kt · 996 mb
• Tropical Storm KatiaNorth Atlantic · 2023Tropical Storm50 kt · 998 mb
• Hurricane LeeNorth Atlantic · 2023 · 4 deathsCat 5145 kt · 926 mb
• Hurricane MargotNorth Atlantic · 2023Cat 180 kt · 969 mb
• Hurricane NigelNorth Atlantic · 2023Cat 285 kt · 958 mb
• Tropical Storm PhilippeNorth Atlantic · 2023Tropical Storm50 kt · 998 mb
• Tropical Storm RinaNorth Atlantic · 2023Tropical Storm45 kt · 999 mb
• Tropical Storm SeanNorth Atlantic · 2023Tropical Storm40 kt · 1005 mb
• Hurricane TammyNorth Atlantic · 2023Cat 295 kt · 965 mb
• Unnamed tropical depressionNorth Atlantic · 2023Tropical Depression25 kt · 1007 mb
• Unnamed tropical depressionNorth Atlantic · 2023Tropical Depression30 kt · 1004 mb

A best track is the record a warning agency settles on after the storm, not what it said at the time: position, maximum sustained wind and central pressure every six hours, revised against every observation that came in later. Category is the Saffir-Simpson scale, which runs from Category 1 at 64 kt to Category 5 at 137 kt and reads wind only, so it says nothing about surge or rain. Accumulated cyclone energy adds up the square of the wind through the storm's life, so it counts strength and duration together.

Storm history from NOAA NCEI’s International Best Track Archive for Climate Stewardship (IBTrACS), which merges the official best track of every warning agency. Live storms, cones, watches and warnings from the National Hurricane Center and the Central Pacific Hurricane Center. Archived radar from NOAA’s Level II archive.

• Tropical cyclone report, National Hurricane Center
• Every advisory and discussion NHC issued while it was live
• Best track as KMZ, National Hurricane Center
• Best track as a shapefile, National Hurricane Center
• Wikipedia article: Tropical Storm Ophelia