OPHELIA -- A HURRICANE AGAIN -- MAJOR THREAT TO SOUTHEAST U.S.

Sept 10, 2005 - 12:20PM CDT

OPHELIA -- A HURRICANE AGAIN -- MAJOR THREAT TO SOUTHEAST U.S.

After weakening to tropical storm overnight, due to dry air intrusion from the west, and southerly
wind shear, the storm has once again re-intensified into a Hurricane, and is slowing to a near crawl.

Air Force RECON indicated the central pressure has fallen significantly to 977mb, a 1-2mb/hr fall
over the last 7 hours, and the MAX sustained surface winds have increased to near 80 mph - in the
Northeast quadrant. The eyewall has again begun to reform, and is about 35NM across. The
'thermal eye wall' -- the temperature difference at 10,000 (700mb) between inside and outside
the eyewall is back up to 6degC -- very supportive of a solid CAT 1 Hurricane.