East Coast storm: Tropical Storm Ophelia to deliver a wet and windy weekend

CNN  —  A soggy, windy weekend is on tap for much of the East Coast as Tropical Storm Ophelia and its vast expanse of wind and rain make the trek up the coast, affecting areas hundreds of miles beyond the storm’s center. Coastal areas will bear the brunt of the heaviest rains and wind, though inland residents will get storms, too. Ophelia is targeting a landfall in North Carolina Saturday, but by the time the storm’s journey is done, wind and rain will have reached as far north as southern New England. TRACK THE STORM Ophelia’s 60-mph winds and stronger gusts could knock out power in some places, especially along the coast. North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper ordered a state of emergency for the entire state Friday as the storm was already lashing coastal areas. The order will help make it easier for emergency crews to respond to the storm. The heavy rain and wind affecting North Carolina and Virginia will worsen into the evening Friday and affect more areas as the storm approaches the coast, so tropical storm warnings stretch from just south of Charleston, South Carolina, to around the Maryland-Delaware state line. Storm surge watches and warnings stretch from Surf City, North Carolina, to the Chesapeake Bay. A few tornadoes are also possible in parts of the coastal mid-Atlantic. View this interactive content on CNN.com The greatest risk of heavy rain and flooding Friday into Saturday was expected in eastern North Carolina and southeast Virginia, where 3 to 5 inches are forecast. Areas where strong bands of thunderstorms news develop could see as much as 7 inches of rain. A broad stretch of the mid-Atlantic into southern New England could see 2 to 4 inches of rainfall from late Friday through the weekend. Areas along the coast could also see hazardous storm surge and coastal flooding, strong rip currents and rough surf. One to 5 feet of surge is possible in some areas, particularly in inlets and rivers from around Surf City, North Carolina, to Manasquan Inlet on the New Jersey shore. The highest risk of storm surge flooding will coincide with Saturday high tides, particularly in a coastal area from New Jersey to the Virginia Tidewater. More than two dozen flood gauges across the area were forecast to hit moderate or major flood levels Saturday, which means homes and businesses closest to the coast could flood and roads could become impassable.