Question for the prognosticators: The five day forecast track has Ophelia geting a little northeast and then starting a loop back to the south, not all that far from where she is now. After that period (and I realize the track itself is highly uncertain), what is the long-term thinking? I confess an inability to read the maps for the NW and Midwest U.S. so I don't know whether to expect a ridge to build in and force it back to the west or for a front to come through, pick her up, and sail her off to the deep Atlantic. Thoughts on that?

Also, I understand that SSTs go down in the wake of big storms and affect storms coming shortly after them. Is there any chance that stationary churning by Ophelia will lower the SSTs under her? Its a middling T.S. now -- is that enough to impact the SSTs and, also is the flow of the Gulf Stream going to keep the SSTs warm just because of where she has parked?

Thanks folks.