Hurricane Erin danger grows on East Coast

Erin creates life threatening surf and evacuations on the North Carolina coast while a follow up tropical system gathers in the Atlantic.

Hurricane Erin brings dangerous surf to the Outer Banks as a new tropical system forms

Hurricane Erin, a Category 3 storm, is not forecast to make landfall but will generate dangerous surf and rip currents along the East Coast. The Outer Banks face the highest risk, with forecasts calling for 20-foot waves and strong coastal flooding. In North Carolina, officials report at least 75 rip current rescues along the southern coast and Wrightsville Beach has a no swim advisory through Friday. A tropical storm watch covers parts of the coast from mid state to Kitty Hawk; Dare and Hyde counties have declared states of emergency and ordered evacuations for Hatteras and Ocracoke islands.

Beyond North Carolina, Erin’s outer bands affected Puerto Rico, the Turks and Caicos and the Bahamas, bringing flooding and power outages. The National Hurricane Center shows Erin’s reach extending up to 80 miles in hurricane force winds and up to 230 miles in tropical storm force winds. Forecasters say a tropical wave trailing Erin has a 60% chance of developing into a depression or storm in the next seven days, potentially becoming Fernand, while another disturbance off Africa has a small chance of development. The Atlantic is expected to stay active through August and September, with sea surface temperatures remaining well above average.

Erin’s rapid intensification from a tropical storm to a major hurricane highlights the volatility of this year’s season and the pressure on coastal authorities to act fast. Even without a direct landfall, the storm will reshape beach use, housing risk and emergency planning along a wide swath of the coast. The reach of Erin’s winds and the size of its surf remind communities that climate patterns are altering the cost and logistics of protection.

The coming days will test how well officials balance caution with normal life. Evacuations, beach closures and emergency declarations carry significant economic and social costs, especially for tourism towns that rely on coastal access. The broader forecast, including Fernand and other disturbances, means residents should stay prepared as the season continues to churn.

Highlights

As Erin moves up the coast, communities must stay ready for the next wave of impacts and lessons learned from this season