Tropical Storm Becomes Hurricane Off Fla.
- By TRAVIS REED, Associated Press Writer
Thursday, September 8, 2005
(09-08) 22:01 PDT New Smyrna Beach, Fla. (AP) --
Tropical Storm Ophelia strengthened into a hurricane as it stalled 70 miles off the northeast Florida coast Thursday, churning up waves that caused beach erosion and drenching Kennedy Space Center with rain.
Thursday night, Ophelia had top sustained winds of 75 mph, just over the threshold to be classified as a hurricane, forecasters at the National Hurricane Center said.
But forecasters said it was still unclear where Ophelia was headed.
If it hits Florida, it would become the third hurricane to strike the state this year and the seventh in the last 13 months.
Downpours from earlier storms had caused flooding in Flagler County, raising anxiety levels about the effect of more rain. Authorities shut down a mile-long stretch of beachfront road in Flagler Beach so transportation workers could shore it up with sand and boulders.
As a precaution, 14 Navy ships at the Naval Station Mayport in Jacksonville headed to sea.
Two shelters in Flagler County were also readied just in case. Neighboring Volusia County opened three shelters, but later closed them because just 12 people showed up.
"We know from last year these storms can do an about-face. We are not out of the woods unless this storm moves well away from Volusia's coast," said Dave Byron, spokesman for Volusia County. Volusia County schools were closed Thursday.
