Tracking scattered t-storms, summer heat
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Yahoo
15 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Hurricane Erin sparks massive waves and evacuations in North Carolina's Outer Banks
Hurricane Erin remained far out at sea on Tuesday, yet it was still producing massive swells, with waves towering 20ft (6 meters) or more and crashing across sand dunes along North Carolina's barrier islands. The storm was tracking northward, running roughly parallel to the east coast, according to the US's National Hurricane Center (NHC) in Miami. Though not projected to strike the mainland, Erin is expected to expand in size and generate hazardous rip currents in the upcoming days. Officials in North Carolina's Outer Banks warned of coastal flooding, prompting evacuation orders. Erin became the Atlantic's first hurricane of 2025, intensifying rapidly to a category 5 on Saturday before weakening. It then regained strength, knocked out power to more than 147,000 utility customers in Puerto Rico, and finally dropped to category 2 status on Tuesday morning. The storm had sustained winds of 110 mph while moving north-west at 7 mph. Its center was located about 665 miles south-west of Bermuda and 720 miles south-south-east of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina. The storm's rapid growth ranks it among the fastest-intensifying hurricanes ever observed in the Atlantic, highlighting scientists' warnings that the climate crisis – driven by greenhouse gas emissions caused by humans – is fueling more rapid storm strengthening. Category 2 hurricanes carry sustained winds of 96 to 110mph. Erin was just shy of category 3, the threshold for what forecasters call a 'major' storm that is capable of severe destruction, with winds starting at 111mph. Even without a direct hurricane warning, Hatteras and Ocracoke islands were ordered to evacuate. Officials fear that North Carolina state highway 12 (NC 12), the narrow route linking the communities, will be heavily damaged or swept away, leaving residents isolated for days or even weeks. In the Outer Banks, roughly 3,500 locals are accustomed to occasional cutoffs from the mainland – but the tens of thousands of tourists currently visiting are not. 'We haven't seen waves of that size in a while and the vulnerable spots have only gotten weaker in the past five years,' Reide Corbett, executive director of the Coastal Studies Institute, told the Associated Press. 'Water, water everywhere. That really resonates on the Outer Banks,' Corbett said. The northern areas around Nags Head and Kill Devil Hills, home to the region's densest development, are outside the evacuation zone. But to the south, across Oregon Inlet, lies Hatteras Island, which relies solely on NC 12 for access. Beyond that is Ocracoke Island, which can only be reached by plane or ferry. Highways were first built there more than six decades ago. Since then, the remote fishing communities transformed into a booming tourist destination, now dotted with thousands of oversized vacation homes. When storms strike, ocean and sound waters often breach dunes, burying the road under sand and debris. Severe events can tear apart pavement or carve out entirely new inlets, forcing temporary bridges. Throughout the 2010s, the North Carolina department of transportation spent more than $1m annually just to keep NC 12 open, plus roughly $50m over the decade for storm-related repairs. Despite the expense, Dare county generates about $2bn annually from tourism, ensuring that the cycle of rebuilding continues. But repairs are not quick. Hurricanes Isabel in 2003 and Irene in 2011 both created new inlets that required two months of ferry service until bridges were installed. Rising sea levels, driven by climate change-related warming temperatures and melting ice, add to the danger. With much of the Outer Banks only a few feet above sea level, even minor erosion can have major effects, such as in Rodanthe, the community that juts furthest into the Atlantic. Since 2020, more than a dozen homes in Rodanthe have collapsed into the sea. Authorities believe at least two more vacant houses could be lost if Erin's surf is as intense as predicted. The Associated Press contributed reporting
CBS News
17 minutes ago
- CBS News
Hurricane Erin forces Outer Banks evacuations as beaches close along the East Coast
Holly Andrzejewski hadn't yet welcomed her and her family's first guests to the Atlantic Inn on Hatteras Island when she had to start rescheduling them — as Hurricane Erin neared North Carolina's Outer Banks on Tuesday and threatened to whip up wild waves and tropical force winds. Andrzejewski and her husband purchased the bed-and-breakfast, known as the oldest inn on the island, less than a week ago. By Monday they had brought in all the outdoor furniture and made sure their daughter and her boyfriend, who are the innkeepers, had generators, extra water and flashlights as they stayed behind to keep an eye on the property. "It's just one of those things where you know this is always a possibility and it could happen, and you just make the best out of it. Otherwise you wouldn't live at the beach," said Andrzejewski, who will also remain on the island, at her home about a 15 minutes' drive away. Although the season's first Atlantic hurricane is expected to stay offshore, evacuations were ordered on barrier islands along the Carolina coast as authorities warned the storm could churn up dangerous rip currents from Florida to the New England coast. Tropical storm and surge watches were issued for much of the Outer Banks. Coastal flooding was expected to begin Tuesday and continue through Thursday. The evacuations on Hatteras Island and Ocracoke came at the height of tourist season on the thin stretch of low-lying barrier islands that jut into the Atlantic Ocean and are increasingly vulnerable to storm surges. In 2019, Hurricane Dorian caused record amounts of damage in Ocracoke. Last year, Hurricane Ernesto stayed offshore but created high surf and swells. Tommy Hutcherson, who owns the community's only grocery store, said the island has mostly bounced back. He's optimistic this storm won't be as destructive. "But you just never know. I felt the same way about Dorian and we really got smacked," he said. With Hurricane Erin, there are concerns that several days of heavy surf, high winds and waves could wash out parts of the main highway. Some routes could be impassable for days. Meanwhile, ocean conditions are dangerous off the Outer Banks and the East Coast. The Wrightsville Beach Fire Department, near Wilmington, North Carolina, said officials rescued between 60 and 70 swimmers on Monday. There were no injuries or fatalities recorded. Beaches along the East Coast have closed to swimming, citing rough waters. Belmar, Bay Head and Island Beach State Park, all in New Jersey, banned swimming because of dangerous surf conditions and strong rip currents. The National Weather Service issued a high rip current risk through at least midweek. Wave heights are expected to reach eight to 15 feet, with conditions worsening as the storm moves closer.
CBS News
17 minutes ago
- CBS News
Another heat advisory for much of North Texas before rain chances return
For the second-straight day, a heat advisory is in effect for the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex to the east, until 7 p.m. Once again, feels like temperatures will reach as high as 108 on Tuesday afternoon. On Monday, the official temperature at DFW hit triple digits for the fourth time this year. Another triple-digit high is likely Tuesday, with forecasts predicting 100-101 degrees. Typically, the region sees around 20 days with highs over 100. North Texas will have partly cloudy skies Tuesday afternoon with an isolated storm possible. Changes will arrive on Wednesday, as high pressure shifts to the west allowing a cold front to move into the region. Scattered rain and storms could start around sunrise and continue into the evening hours. The day will not be a wash-out, and severe weather is not expected, but a slow-moving strong storm may produce gusty winds and heavy rain. North Texas will dry out heading into the weekend with sunny skies and seasonal temperatures.
