(AP) September 11, 2005 - According to the National Hurricane Center, Ophelia appears to be drifting westward at about 3mph a gradual turn to the west-northwest is expected for early Monday.

A tropical storm warning remains in effect from the South Santee River, South Carolina northeastward to Cape Lookout, North Carolina.

Ophelia is a category one hurricane with top sustained winds near 75 mph with higher gusts. A hurricane watch remains in effect from just north of Edisto Beach, S.C., to North Carolina's Cape Lookout, a stretch of more than 250 miles.
Ophelia- (Forecast Path | Latest Advisory)
Malachi Rodgers' forecast for Ophelia

There was some chance that Ophelia could remain at sea, but most computer models bring the hurricane close to the Carolinas late Tuesday or early Wednesday, said Daniel Brown, a meteorologist with the National Hurricane Center in Miami.

"They'll be feeling the effects there in portions of the Carolinas even if it stays offshore," he said.

Conditions don't appear too favorable for Ophelia to strengthen much, he said.

North Carolina Gov. Mike Easley declared a state of emergency as the storm's meandering track shifted northward. The storm was not close enough to make a decision on whether to order evacuations, said Eddie King, Pender County emergency management director.

South Carolina officials said a decision would be made soon about whether to order evacuations, but Charleston County said it would open shelters for voluntary evacuees from low-lying areas and barrier islands.

The storm is "moving really slow so we have to hang with it. But there is some expectation it will move toward the coast," said Joe Farmer, a spokesman for the South Carolina Emergency Management Division.

At 11 p.m. EDT Sunday, Ophelia was 240 miles east-southeast of Charleston, S.C., and about 290 miles south of Cape Hatteras, N.C. The storm was nearly stationary after following a meandering course since becoming a tropical storm Wednesday off the coast of Florida.

Ophelia already was contributing to rough surf along the coast.

"There are large swells from Ophelia and residual swells from (Tropical Storm) Nate and from the northeast winds we've had over the past few days. You can imagine how confused the seas are," said meteorologist Steve Pfaff at the National Weather Service in Wilmington, N.C. He said a buoy at Frying Pan Shoals, 35 miles off Cape Fear, reported 12-foot waves Saturday.

The governor and emergency leaders are discussing whether voluntary or mandatory evacuation plans need to be implemented.

After watching the problems New Orleans encountered with Hurricane Katrina, Horry County is working to refine its plan for evacuating thousands of poor, sick and elderly residents from the deadly waves and wind of a major hurricane.

The Horry County Emergency Operations Center says it expects an evacuation between US 17 and the coast.

Storm Team Weathercaster Malachi Rodgers is warning beachgoers to "be extremely careful at the beaches for rip currents and high surf associated with off-shore Ophelia."

Malachi is predicting landfall "late Monday into Tuesday."

"Almost every (computer) model indicates a United States landfall," says Storm Team Meteorologist Brooks Garner, "It's time to make those preparations."

Ophelia is the seventh hurricane in this year's busy Atlantic hurricane season, which began June 1 and ends Nov. 30. Peak storm activity typically occurs from the end of August through mid-September.

Updated 11:20pm by Kaela Harmon with AP