Hurricane Ophelia closes in on North Carolina
Hurricane warnings shifted northward
Wednesday, September 14, 2005;
Posted: 4:27 p.m. EDT (20:27 GMT)

NAGS HEAD, North Carolina (AP) -- Hurricane Ophelia crept up the North Carolina coast Wednesday with high wind, driving rain and pounding surf that washed away a barrier island street, cut off electricity to thousands and threatened widespread flooding.

The storm had sustained wind of 85 mph Wednesday afternoon, up from 75 mph early in the morning, the National Hurricane Center said. Hurricane warnings were shifted northward, covering the entire North Carolina coast from the South Carolina line to Virginia, where a tropical storm warning covered the mouth of Chesapeake Bay.

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