In its 5 p.m. EDT advisory Friday, the National Hurricane Center said Ophelia was located about 120 miles southeast of Cape Fear, N.C., moving at 13 mph toward the north-northwest. The storm has maximum sustained winds of 70 mph.

A tropical storm warning is in effect for Cape Fear, N.C., to Fenwick Island, Del., as well as for Albemarle and Pamlico sounds, plus the tidal Potomac south of Cobb Island. Additionally, Chesapeake Bay south of North Beach is under a tropical storm warning.

A storm surge warning is in effect for Beaufort Inlet, N.C. to Chincoteague, Va., as well as Chesapeake Bay south of Colonial Beach, Va., the Neuse and Pamlico rivers, and portions of Pamlico and Albemarle sounds.

Storm surge watches were posted for Surf City, N.C., to Beaufort Inlet, N.C. Bogue Inlet, N.C.

Forecasters said Ophelia’s north-northwest track will continue for the next day or so before the storm system will take a slight turn to the north.

As of Friday, a Hurricane Watch is also in effect for parts of North Carolina, including North of Surf City, N.C. to Ocracoke Inlet, N.C.

Ophelia will approach the North Carolina coast Friday night, forecasters said, warning that the storm will move across eastern North Carolina, southeastern Virginia, and the Delmarva Peninsula on Saturday and Sunday.

Some wind-speed strengthening is possible in the next 24 hours, forecasters said.

Tropical storm conditions will continue spreading northward through Saturday, forecasters said. They also warned that the combination of a dangerous storm surge and the tide will cause normally dry areas near the coast to be flooded by rising waters moving inland from the shoreline.

If the storm comes ashore during high tide, forecasters said the Neuse, Bay, Pamlico and Pungo rivers could rise 3 to 5 feet.

Ophilia is expected to move across eastern North Carolina and southeastern Virginia during the weekend.