Sept. 14 (Bloomberg) -- Hurricane Ophelia was ``crawling'' towards the southeast U.S. coast, where it may make landfall later today after regaining hurricane strength amid warnings and evacuations along parts of North and South Carolina.

Ophelia's winds increased late yesterday to 75 miles per hour (120 kph), above the threshold for a hurricane, and Ophelia was centered about 70 miles south of Wilmington, North Carolina, at 5 a.m. local time, according to an advisory posted on the National Hurricane Center's Web site. The storm was moving northward at 5 mph, the center said.

``Because of the slow motion of the hurricane and the relatively large extent of hurricane force winds, the hurricane force winds will reach the coast well in advance of the center,'' the center said in a 2 a.m. advisory. Hurricane-force winds reached out 50 miles from the center, with tropical storm-force winds, above 39 mph, extending 140 miles.

The governors of North Carolina and Virginia declared a state of emergency to free up resources ahead of the storm's passage. North Carolina Governor Mike Easley yesterday urged residents of six counties to heed mandatory evacuation orders, and voluntary evacuation was advised in parts of South Carolina.

Ophelia comes less than three weeks after Hurricane Katrina swept ashore devastating coastal Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama, and flooding New Orleans. The government approved $62.3 billion in relief for the areas, making Katrina the most expensive disaster in U.S. history.

The outer bands of the latest storm, brushed the coast late last night. Ophelia may brush the coast again later today, before the center hits land near Cape Lookout, North Carolina, at about 2 a.m. local time tomorrow, according to the Miami-based Hurricane Center's 3-day ``probability cone.''

`Erratic Motion'

``Steering currents are forecast to remain weak and an erratic motion is not out of the question,'' the center said. The storm may experience ``slight strengthening'' over the next day, according to the advisory.

The slow movement suggests Ophelia's winds and rain may last 36 to 48 hours, Eric Blake, a hurricane center meteorologist, said yesterday.

``The prolonged nature of the storm could increase the threat of coastal erosion,'' Blake said.

A hurricane warning, meaning such conditions are expected within 24 hours, was in effect from South Santee River in South Carolina to Oregon Inlet, North Carolina. A hurricane watch, which means such conditions are possible within 36 hours, extended from the warning area north to the Virginia border.

A Hurricane watch that extended to Edisto Beach, South Carolina, was discontinued, according to the latest advisory. A tropical storm warning remained in effect for that area.

Opening Shelters

Shelters were opened in Charleston, Horry and Georgetown counties, South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford's office said in a statement posted on its Web site. Parts of all three counties are under voluntary evacuation orders.

``People on barrier islands, oceanfront property, property in low-lying areas, property along rivers and streams and people in mobile homes and at campgrounds are especially at risk,'' Sanford said in the statement. ``It is urgent that they give extremely careful consideration to moving inland.''

Sanford said in an interview last night on MSNBC that 280 National Guard troops were stationed along the coast in preparation for Ophelia.

In North Carolina, 350 National Guard troopers were mobilized and 30 shelters were opened, Governor Easley's office said in a statement on its Web site. Easley appealed for residents of parts of Brunswick, Carteret, Dare, Hyde, Onslow and Pender Counties. Voluntary evacuation was suggested in other parts of the state.

`Significant Damage' Possible

``Ophelia should not be taken lightly,'' Easley said in the statement. ``This slow-moving storm could cause flooding, power outages and significant damage.''

The University of North Carolina Wilmington cancelled classes and activities from noon yesterday, and East Carolina University in Greenville closed today, according to the two schools' Web sites.

Ophelia was expected to bring an additional 4 inches to 8 inches of rain in parts of the Carolinas, with a maximum total of 15 inches along North Carolina's coast, the hurricane center said. Isolated tornadoes were possible today along North Carolina's coast, the agency said.

Virginia Governor Mark Warner declared a state of emergency earlier this week. A tropical storm watch, indicating such conditions are possible within 36 hours, was in place from the North Carolina/Virginia border to Cape Charles Light.

Ophelia is the 15th named storm of the June 1-Nov. 30 Atlantic hurricane season. Hurricanes are measured on the five- step Saffir-Simpson scale, with Category 1 the weakest.

To contact the reporter on this story: Alex Morales in London at amorales2@bloomberg.net; Jessica Brice in San Francisco at jbrice1@bloomberg.net

Last Updated: September 14, 2005 06:02 EDT