Tropical Storm Ophelia strengthens as it threatens East Coast with wet and windy weekend

Tropical Storm Ophelia has strengthened off the East Coast, Hurricane Hunter data shows, as North Carolina and parts of the mid-Atlantic prepare for a soggy and windy weekend ahead of the storm's anticipated landfall.

The storm, packing maximum sustained winds of 70 mph with higher gusts, is expected to affect areas hundreds of miles beyond its center with several inches of rain as it treks up the coast, according to the National Hurricane Center.

A hurricane watch was issued Friday evening for portions of eastern North Carolina. Ophelia moved north-northwest toward the East Coast on Friday at around 13 mph.

The storm's center is forecast to approach North Carolina's coast Friday night, the National Hurricane Center stated in an update.

"Some additional strengthening cannot be ruled out as Ophelia traverses the warm waters of the Gulf Stream on its approach to eastern North Carolina. While this does not seem like the most likely outcome and is not explicitly forecast, the increased risk warrants the issuance of a Hurricane Watch for a portion of the North Carolina coast," the hurricane center said.

Coastal areas will bear the brunt of the heaviest rains and wind, though inland residents will get storms, too. Ophelia is targeting a landfall in North Carolina Saturday, but by the time the storm's journey is done, wind and rain will have reached as far north as southern New England.

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