Hurricane Katrina

09:16 AM CDT on Wednesday, September 7, 2005

Associated Press

MIAMI — Tropical Storm Ophelia strengthened Wednesday off Florida's Atlantic coast, following an erratic path that threatened parts of the state with heavy rain.

Less than two weeks after Hurricane Katrina hit South Florida, tropical storm warnings were posted along a 100-mile stretch from Sebastian Inlet to Flagler Beach. The storm's sustained wind increased to 45 mph from 40 mph earlier in the day.

Up to 5 inches of rain were expected over the next few days from central Florida to southeastern Georgia, with some isolated areas possibly getting 8 inches.

At 8 a.m. EDT, the center of the storm was about 80 miles east of Cape Canaveral. It was moving toward the north-northwest near 7 mph.

Ophelia's forecast appeared to keep the center offshore through the weekend, though forecasters warned its path remained uncertain. "It's been very erratic," said Lt. Dave Roberts, a Navy meteorologist at the National Hurricane Center.

Some computer models have the storm moving to the east and away from the coast, others have it going west, closer to shore, and some show it heading east and then looping back toward the state.

"Anything is possible," said Lixion Avila, a hurricane specialist at the National Hurricane Center in Miami.

Either way, rain and wind from the edges of the storm were expected to hit the coast, including areas affected by last year's Hurricanes Frances and Jeanne. Much of the region has recovered but some homes remain covered in blue tarps as owners await new roofs.

Two other storms were out in the open ocean Wednesday as the busy hurricane season continued. Tropical Storm Nate was expected to strengthen south of Bermuda, while Hurricane Maria weakened to a tropical storm in the cooler waters of the North Atlantic.

At 5 a.m. EDT, Nate, the 14th named storm of the season, was centered about 260 miles south-southwest of Bermuda with top sustained winds of about 70 mph. Forecasters at the National Hurricane Center said it was expected to become a hurricane later Wednesday.

"Perhaps by the end of the work week it could be posing a threat to Bermuda, but not the U.S.," hurricane specialist Stacy Stewart said.

At 5 a.m., Maria was centered 705 miles east-northeast of Bermuda and was forecast to weaken further. Winds were 65 mph, forecasters said.

Maria was the fifth hurricane of the Atlantic hurricane season. The season began June 1 and ends Nov. 30. Peak storm activity typically occurs from the end of August through mid-September.

Hurricane Katrina hit South Florida on Aug. 25, killing 11 people and leaving hundreds of thousands without power, before striking the Gulf Coast last week. It was the sixth hurricane to hit the state in a little more than a year.