Tropical Storm Ophelia was getting better organized Tuesday and threatening to regain hurricane strength as it neared the southeastern US coast, even as the United States struggled to recover from devastating Hurricane Katrina.
The new storm threatened less than two weeks after catastrophic Katrina slammed into the US Gulf Coast August 29, leaving more than 500 dead in Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida; more than 100,000 people displaced; and billions of dollars in damage.
"Maximum sustained winds are near 70 mph (113 km/h) with higher gusts. Some slow strengthening is forecast during the next 24 hours and Ophelia could become a hurricane again later today or tonight," the National Hurricane center in Miami said.
At 1500 GMT, the center of Tropical Storm Ophelia was located near about 120 miles (193 km) east-southeast of Charleston South Carolina, moving slowly toward the north-northwest near 3 mph (5 km/h), the center added.
Ophelia was expected to produce total rainfall accumulations of 6-10 inches (15-25 cm) over far northeastern South Carolina and eastern North Carolina with possible isolated maximum rainfall amounts of 15 inches over eastern North Carolina, the center forecast.
The estimated one million people displaced by Katrina have sought refuge across the country, but South Carolina has stopped receiving flights of evacuees so it can prepare for the new storm.
If the 2004 storm season was exceptional, with four hurricanes hitting Florida, experts said this storm season could turn out to be even worse.
"We expect that by the time the 2005 hurricane season is over, we will witness seasonal tropical cyclone activity at near-record levels," said William Gray, Colorado State University professor of atmospheric science.
