Ophelia lining up on path similar to previous storms

Tropical Storm Ophelia has formed in the central Atlantic, and early computer modeling shows the storm following a path similar to its predecessors.

The National Hurricane Center sees Ophelia as a weak sister to Irene, barely maintaining tropical storm force in the next five days.

It is too early to forecast with certainty the storm’s strength and path, but so far, weather patterns are lining up to steer it just north of the Leeward Islands.

Hurricane Katia and Tropical Storm Maria followed a similar path before turning north and northeast out to sea.

Late Wednesday morning the storm was moving west at 16 mph with top winds of 60 mph. The hurricane center said it was expected to weaken in the next couple of days.

The storm was 1,245 miles east of the Leeward Islands.

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