Observations from Ophelia

Submitted by Kim on 09/25/2023

NOAA CBIBS buoys tracked the storm’s effects as it moved through the Chesapeake region September 22-24. Peak wind gusts at the buoys show Ophelia’s south-to-north progression: 

  • First Landing: 53.4 knots (61.5 mph), 9:06 p.m., 9/22

  • York Spit: 52.6 knots (60.5 mph), 10:42 p.m., 9/22

  • Stingray Point: 47.4 knots (54.5 mph), 4:18 a.m., 9/23

  • Point Lookout: 45.5 knots (52.4 mph), 4:24 a.m., 9/23

  • Gooses Reef: 48.6 knots (55.9 mph), 2:24 p.m., 9/23

  • Annapolis: 39.2 knots (45.1), 5:12 p.m., 9/23

  • Patapsco: 45.6 knots (52.5), 5:54 p.m., 9/23

Peak wind speeds were observed at:

  • First Landing: 39.1 knots (45 mph), 10:12 p.m., 9/22

  • York Spit: 35.6 knots (41 mph), 10:18 p.m., 9/22

  • Stingray Point: 35.7 knots (41.1 mph), 5:00 a.m., 9/23

  • Point Lookout: 32.7 knots (37.6 mph), 4:54 a.m., 9/23

  • Gooses Reef: 35.9 knots (41.3 mph), 2:42 p.m., 9/23

  • Annapolis: 30.4 knots (35 mph), 1:24 p.m., 9/23

  • Patapsco: 35.2 knots (40.5 mph), 8:48 a.m., 9/23

Waves were quite high, too. The First Landing buoy saw a max wave height of 2.6 meters (8.5 feet).