A hurricane watch was posted Saturday for the Southeast coast as Ophelia strengthened into a hurricane once again and meteorologists said its meandering course could take a sharp turn toward land.

The watch was in effect along a 300-mile stretch from the Georgia-South Carolina state line to North Carolina's Cape Lookout, meaning hurricane-force wind of at least 74 mph was possible by Sunday evening, the National Hurricane Center said. The center said it may shift the watch northward Saturday night.

The forecasters said the storm most likely would strike between Myrtle Beach and Morehead City, N.C.

"The forecast track is pointing towards North Carolina, but South Carolina is not out of the woods yet," said center hurricane specialist Jack Beven. The prediction of landfall has been made difficult by weak steering currents, Beven said.

N.C. Gov. Mike Easley declared a state of emergency Saturday evening, activating the state's emergency response center in Raleigh and authorizing the use as needed of the National Guard and all state agencies.

No local evacuations were in place as of late Saturday evening. Brunswick County, N.C., officials were planning a conference with state workers at midnight after the 11 p.m. hurricane advisory.

After viewing the 5 p.m. Ophelia update, Horry County said there would be no evacuation order issued Saturday. Emergency officials will regroup at 5 a.m. Sunday for another update and planning session. The prediction Saturday evening showed the storm tracking north of Horry County and was a relief to emergency workers, county Spokeswoman Lisa Bourcier said.

Horry and Georgetown counties opened their emergency operations centers Saturday.

Charleston County announced it would open shelters Saturday evening for voluntary evacuees from low-lying areas and barrier islands.

"We don't think it's a done deal yet," said Joe Farmer, a spokesman for the South Carolina Emergency Management Division. "It's moving really slow so we have to hang with it. But there is some expectation it will move toward the coast."

Emergency management directors along the North Carolina coast said they were prepared for Ophelia and warned residents not to be complacent.

The crew of an Air Force hurricane hunter airplane flying through Ophelia measured top sustained wind of 80 mph. It could strengthen a bit before an expected Monday landfall, said Eric Blake, a meteorologist at the hurricane center in Miami.

"Almost every (computer) model indicates a United States landfall," he said. "It's time to make those preparations."

Farmer urged people to monitor the Category 1 storm.

"We want to be sure people in South Carolina are paying attention to the storm," Farmer said. "We wouldn't want anyone in South Carolina to be caught off guard."

The Hurricane Center said the environment in front of the storm was only marginally favorable for strengthening before landfall.

Ophelia was already 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, was reporting 12-foot waves.

"Almost every (computer) model indicates a United States landfall," said Eric Blake, a meteorologist at the National Hurricane Center. "It's time to make those preparations."

According to the official forecast, coastal areas could see tropical storm force winds by Monday, followed by hurricane force winds later in the day. Winds as high as 100 mph are expected.

Local rainfall amounts should be from two to four inches, although widespread flooding is not expected. The heaviest rain should be Monday into Tuesday. Some power outages are possible.

"It does pose a direct threat to the Grand Strand," said Tom Matheson, meteorologist from the National Weather Service in Wilmington, N.C.

At 11 p.m. EDT Saturday, Ophelia was about 200 miles southeast of Wilmington, N.C., and was nearly stationary, and forecasters predicted little movement for the rest of the weekend.

Horry, Georgetown, Brunswick and state officials watched the storm carefully and told their emergency-management personnel to spend the weekend near home and emergency operations centers.

Saturday was the statistical peak of the hurricane season, said Rich Thacker, senior forecaster at the National Weather Service in Charleston.

Georgetown County emergency preparedness manager Lewis Dugan said crews there had been contacted.

"We notified law enforcement, emergency services, and traffic control people to let them know we might have something late Sunday or Monday," Dugan said.

Emergency directors said local personnel were kept at home after Hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf Coast.

"I think it's just proper planning to ensure we have adequate resources to address any tropical-related concerns that may impact eastern North Carolina," said Randy Thompson, emergency management director for Brunswick County, N.C.

Horry County Emergency Management Director Randy Webster said, "No one from Horry County government is going outside the area this weekend, and the Red Cross and Salvation Army said they can continue to support us."

Dugan said because he's not sure how fast a federal response might be if a hurricane makes landfall in Georgetown County. "We are gearing up to take care of ourselves for the first 48 hours at least before we look to the federal government."