Chatham, Mass. ? Tropical Storm Ophelia rushed through southeastern Massachusetts with little effect on Saturday, piling waves 19 feet high well offshore but sparing Martha’s Vineyard, Nantucket and Cape Cod from damaging wind and rain.

Meteorologists had predicted wind gusts up to 60 mph, minor flooding on Nantucket and torrential rain on Cape Cod, where about 200 evacuees from Hurricane Katrina are staying. Beachgoers were warned of possible riptides and boat owners secured their craft.

However, the center of Ophelia passed 90 miles south of Nantucket and tropical storm warnings were lifted. The storm was expected to be near or over Nova Scotia during the night, the National Hurricane Center said.