Deadly rip currents from Florida to New York: 'Stay out of the ocean'
Hurricane Erin is expected to bring large waves, rough surf and life-threatening rip currents from Florida to Canada as it moves northwest off the U.S. east coast, according to the latest advisory from the National Hurricane Center.
As of early Tuesday, watches and warnings associated with Erin have been issued for portions of North Carolina as residents and visitors listen to evacuation orders issued for the outer Banks.
➤ Live updates: Hurricane Erin starts rough slog up US East Coast
➤ Weather alerts via text: Sign up to get updates about current storms and weather events by location
Erin is a large hurricane and is expected to grow "substantially in size" as it moves over the western Atlantic this week, according to the Hurricane Center. Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 80 miles from the center, and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 205 miles.
So what's the latest on Erin? Erin weakened slightly overnight and Tuesday morning and is now a strong Category 2 storm with maximum sustained winds of 110 mph. A major hurricane is one that's a Category 3 or higher, with sustained winds of at least 111 mph.
What impacts could Hurricane Erin have on Florida?
Florida's east coast faces a significant risk from Hurricane Erin, including dangerous surf and life-threatening rip currents, according to Michael Brennan, director of the National Hurricane Center.
Swells generated by the storm could produce wave heights of 20 to 30 feet—and possibly up to 50 feet near its center. These swells are expected to impact much of Florida's coastline, increasing likelihood of life-threatening rip currents to Florida's coast.
Along Northeast Florida beaches, Surf heights could reach 7 to 10 feet between August 19 and 21. Farther south, along east central Florida, waves are forecast to peak at 9 to 11 feet, with some reaching up to 14 feet on August 20, according to the National Weather Service in Melbourne.
U.S Rip Current Risk conditions from FL to NY
'This is going to make for very dangerous marine conditions across all of the western Atlantic and increase the risk for dangerous and life-threatening surf and rip current conditions across almost the entire US East Coast,' Brennan said.
Jacksonville: 'Stay out of the ocean'
In Northeast Florida, ocean breakers of greater than seven feet are expected Tuesday through Thursday, according to the Weather Service, with the peak wave height around high tide on Wednesday. Minor coastal and tidal flooding is possible with "at least moderate beach erosion," said NWS meteorologist Angela Enyedi. Moderate beach erosion is possible during the early Wednesday evening high tide.
The National Weather Service is advising everyone, including surfers, to 'stay out of the ocean' as High Rip Current risk will impact all local beaches with a High Surf Advisory in effect until Thursday with breakers reaching 5 to 8 ft today and 7 to 11ft Wednesday.
How is Hurricane Erin impacting Jacksonville this week?
Here's a breakdown for the week:
Tuesday: Seas will build to 6-8 feet offshore after midnight and to Caution levels of 4-6 feet near shore this evening, building further to 5-7 feet during the predawn hours on Tuesday. Deadly surf conditions will begin on Tuesday all along the coast, with breaker heights building to 6-8 feet by the afternoon hours at Northeast Florida beaches
Wednesday: Seas will peak in the 8-11 foot range near shore on Wednesday and Wednesday night, while seas offshore peak in the 11-14 foot range on Wednesday. A high surf advisory will likely be issued for the Northeast Florida beaches from Tuesday through at least Thursday night, with breakers peaking in the 9-11 foot range on Wednesday.
Thursday: Expect seas ranging from 6 to 9 feet, Shashy said, and to remain elevated through the weekend.
What is a rip current?
Rip currents are powerful channels of water flowing quickly away from shore, which occur most often at low spots or breaks in the sandbar and in the vicinity of structures such as jetties and piers.
Rip currents form when incoming waves create an underwater sandbar. The waves push more water between the sandbar and the shore until it collapses and the water rushes back to the sea through a narrow gap, where it starts to spread out. But they can be difficult to see when you're in the water as the ocean over them can still be smooth.
Entering the surf is strongly discouraged. If caught in a rip current, relax and float. Don`t swim against the current. If able, swim in a direction following the shoreline. If unable to escape, face the shore and call or wave for help.
Hurricane Erin projected path. See current location
Special note on the NHC cone: The forecast track shows the most likely path of the center of the storm. It does not illustrate the full width of the storm or its impacts, and the center of the storm is likely to travel outside the cone up to 33% of the time.
Location: 665 miles southwest of Bermuda; 720 miles south-southeast of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina; and 518 miles east of Stuart
Maximum sustained winds: 110 mph
Movement: northwest at 7 mph
Pressure: 958 mb
Next advisory: 11 a.m. ET
➤ Track all active storms
North Carolina braces for Hurricane Erin. Watches issued
Several watches associated with Erin have been issued for North Carolina:
Storm surge watch: Cape Lookout to Duck, North Carolina
Tropical storm watch: Beaufort Inlet to Duck, North Carolina including Pamlico Sound
The storm's rapid intensification prompted increased emergency measures in North Carolina. The Outer Banks — a popular summer vacation spot — are under a state of emergency. Officials mandated evacuations for Hatteras Island, ordering visitors to leave by 10 a.m. Monday, Aug. 18, and residents by 8 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 19, as forecasters warned of life-threatening rip currents, large swells, coastal flooding and road washouts.
The hurricane center warned storm surge could cause the water to rise 2 to 4 feet above dry ground along the Outer Banks as Erin moves north.
➤ NC declares state of emergency in Outer Banks. See Hurricane Erin tracker
Residents along the North Carolina coast were warned there is a risk of strong winds associated with the outer rainbands of Erin around the middle of the week, as well as a threat for significant coastal flooding and beach erosion, according to the National Weather Service's Weather Prediction Center.
Spaghetti models for Hurricane Erin. See projected path
Special note about spaghetti models: Illustrations include an array of forecast tools and models, and not all are created equal. The hurricane center uses only the top four or five highest performing models to help make its forecasts.
➤ Track Hurricane Erin
How strong is Hurricane Erin and where could it go?
At 8 a.m., the center of Hurricane Erin was located near latitude 25.2 North, longitude 72.2 West.
Erin is moving toward the northwest near 7 mph. A turn toward the north-northwest with an increase in forward speed is expected today, followed by a northward motion on Wednesday and then a northeastward motion on Thursday.
On the forecast track, the center of Erin will pass to the east of the Bahamas today and tonight, and then move over the western Atlantic between the U.S. east coast and Bermuda on Wednesday and Thursday.
Maximum sustained winds are near 110 mph, with higher gusts. Fluctuations in strength are possible over the next few days.
Erin is a large hurricane. Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 80 miles from the center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 205 miles.
Where have watches and warnings been issued for Hurricane Erin?
A tropical storm warning is in effect for:
Turks and Caicos Islands
Southeast Bahamas
A tropical storm watch is in effect for:
Central Bahamas
Beaufort Inlet to Duck, North Carolina including Pamlico Sound
A storm surge watch is in effect for:
Cape Lookout to Duck, North Carolina
Key messages from the National Hurricane Center: What you need to know about Hurricane Erin
Erin is expected to produce life-threatening surf and rip currents along the beaches of the Bahamas, much of the east coast of the U.S., Bermuda, and Atlantic Canada during the next several days. Beachgoers in those areas should follow advice from lifeguards, local authorities, and beach warning flags.
Tropical storm conditions and coastal flooding are possible in the North Carolina Outer Banks beginning late Wednesday or Wednesday night where Tropical Storm and Storm Surge Watches are in effect. Interests in along the U.S. Mid-Atlantic and southern New England coasts and on Bermuda should also monitor the progress of Erin as strong winds are possible Thursday and Friday.
Heavy rainfall from the outer bands of Erin will continue today for the Turks and Caicos and through tonight for the Bahamas. Flash and urban flooding are possible.
Tropical storm conditions are expected in the Turks and Caicos Islands and in the southeast Bahamas for a few more hours. Tropical storm conditions are possible in portions of the central Bahamas today.
Current forecast: How strong could Hurricane Erin get?
At 5 a.m.: 115 mph
12 hours: 110 mph
24 hours: 110 mph
36 hours: 115 mph
48 hours: 115 mph
60 hours: 110 mph
72 hours: 105 mph
96 hours: 85 mph
120 hours: 75 mph
Hurricane categories: Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale
Category 1 hurricane: 74-95 mph
Category 2 hurricane: 96-110 mph
Category 3 hurricane: 111-129 mph
Category 4 hurricane: 130-156 mph
Category 5 hurricane: 157 mph or higher
Interactive map: What tropical storms, hurricanes have impacted your area in the past?
Stay informed. Get weather alerts via text
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Hurricane Erin is causing deadly rip currents. Here's what to know
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
UPI
an hour ago
- UPI
Hurricane Erin takes aim at U.S. East Coast
Hurricane Erin had maximum sustained winds of 105 mph Tuesday evening, and was expected to cause life-threatening rip currents along the U.S. east coast. Photo courtesy of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Aug. 18 (UPI) -- Hurricane Erin was taking aim at the U.S. East Coast on Tuesday evening, according to forecasters who are warning Americans of life-threatening rip currents along beaches that could persist for days. The storm was located about 585 miles southwest of Bermuda and 540 miles south-southeast of Cape Hatteras, N.C., the National Hurricane Center said in its 11 p.m. EDT update. Erin had maximum sustained winds of 100 mph, a Category 2 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale. It was moving north-northwest at 12 mph. A storm surge warning was in effect for from Cape Lookout to Duck, N.C., while a tropical storm warning was in effect for Beaufort Inlet to Duck, including Pamlico and Albemarle sounds. North of Duck, N.C., to Chincoteague, Virginia, was under a tropical storm watch, as was Bermuda. "On the forecast track, the center of Erin will pass to the east of the Bahamas tonight, and then move over the western Atlantic between the U.S. east coast and Bermuda on Wednesday and Thursday," the NHC said. Erin has been pummeling the Turk and Caicos, which are expected to see diminishing rainfall this evening, as should the Bahamas, the forecasters said, as they predict heavy rainfall for North Carolina starting Wednesday night and into Thursday. A potential 1 to 2 inches of rainfall is possible, they said. Of greater worry are swells generated by Erin, which have the forecasters expecting life-threatening surf and rip currents affecting the Bahamas, Bermuda, Atlantic Canada and the U.S. east coast over the next several days. "Beachgoers in those areas should follow advice from lifeguards, local authorities and beach warning flags," the NHC said in a discussion on Erin. "Storm surge flooding and tropical storm conditions are expected in the North Carolina Outer Banks beginning late Wednesday or Wednesday night, where tropical storm and storm surge warnings are in effect. The storm surge will be accompanied by large waves, leading to significant beach erosion and overwash, making some roads impassable." The season's first Atlantic hurricane reached Category 5 status Saturday morning, the highest classification, after rapidly intensifying overnight Friday, when it became a Category 1 hurricane, the year's fifth named storm. Erin dropped to a Category 4 and then a 3 overnight into Sunday, but regained Category 4 strength late Sunday before again losing strength. Erin became the first hurricane of the 2025 Atlantic storm season Friday morning. There have been four named storms so far this season in the Atlantic. Tropical Storm Chantal caused major flooding in North Carolina but has been the only one of the four to make landfall in the United States this year. The Atlantic hurricane season began on June 1 and ends on Nov. 30. The peak hurricane season runs from mid-August through September and into mid-October. Ninety-three percent of hurricane landfalls along the U.S. Gulf Coast and the East Coast have occurred from August through October, the Weather Channel reported, citing data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Last year at this time, there had also been five named storms.
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Dominion Energy calls reinforcements to coastal regions ahead of Thursdays storm
OUTER BANKS, N.C. (WAVY) — Dominion Energy representatives said they're determined to keep customers lights on ahead the impact Hurricane Erin may have. From southeast Virginia to coastal North Carolina, crews from across the Commonwealth are driving towards where power outages are anticipated. 'We actually are moving crews from our northern Virginia region and our central Virginia region, like in Richmond, down to the eastern region of Virginia, like Hampton Roads, as well as to the Outer Banks, even eastern Elizabeth City,' explained Cherise Newsome with Dominion Energy. 'We want to make sure we have all hands on deck to prepare for whatever Hurricane Erin brings our way.' Those crews will be handling outages in cooperation with other power companies who operate in the Outer Banks. Newsome said incoming crews will temporarily be stationed outside harder hit zones for a strategic purpose. 'We do have to keep that equipment away from those areas that are likely to get flooded because it could damage that equipment,' she said. 'They're just a stone's throw away, but they are strategically kept at staging areas that are less susceptible to coastal flooding.' According to Newsome, preparations for storms happen long before they're even on the radar. Hardening the power grid and improving technology are just a couple of ways Dominion works to keep the lights on when storms hit. 'The operations crew works remotely to identify ports on power lines using power line sensors. They can detect faults, whether that's a tree branch or something else, that's causing an interrupted or an interruption in the flow of power,' she explained. 'What they do is detect that fault, and they can section off the trouble spot and then reroute the flow of electricity.' It's likely customers may see an impact to their power services due to the storm. If that does happen, Dominion Energy is asking that you stay patient with line workers who are working to help you along the way. Dominion also wants to remind customers that although they can better detect outages, contacting them and providing context to what you're seeing helps crews repair the issue faster. 'We do ask that you report your outage, using the app or by calling 866-DOM-HELP. Then, you will be able to track the status of your repair. That'll help you know if it'll be a few hours and you might want to stick it out, or if it could take longer,' Newsome said. Stay with for more local news, weather and traffic. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
NHC's Jamie Rhome joins Bryan Norcross to answer questions on Hurricane Erin
MIAMI - Hurricane Erin continues to pose a serious coastal threat to parts of the Carolinas and mid-Atlantic, as the cyclone churns several hundred miles off the coast. In a more than hour-long live-stream hurricane Q&A on Tuesday, National Hurricane Center Deputy Director Jamie Rhome joined FOX Weather Hurricane Specialist Bryan Norcross to answer several questions from viewers about Hurricane Erin. The hurricane experts also urged the public to focus on surge and surf, rather than the traditional impacts outlined by the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale. "This is going to be a tricky storm," Rhome stated. "It's going to [cause] big storm surge and coastal erosion and wave impacts along the Outer Banks and portions to the north as well." The NHC last estimated Erin's maximum sustained winds to be at around 105 mph, making it a Category 2, though observations suggest that value may be on the high side. Rhome stressed that the Saffir-Simpson scale will not tell the full story on Erin as the cyclone's vast size is likely to push water over vulnerable barrier islands along the North Carolina coast. Hurricane Hunters Fly Into World's Worst Weather. See Which Storm Was The Bumpiest "They're flooding today with the high tide right now," said Rhome. "The wind hasn't even come up. The biggest of the waves haven't even arrived and they're already flooding in spots today." In areas under a Storm Surge Warning from Cape Lookout to Duck, North Carolina, forecasters expected water levels to rise at least 3-4 feet above normal high tide. Impacts will not be limited to North Carolina, as waves generated by Erin are radiating hundreds of miles from the center, reaching from Florida's Treasure Coast to New England. "It's really a coastal event," said Norcross. "And it's going to be felt a long way from where the center of Erin passes offshore." Forecasters expect New Jersey, Long Island and much of New England to experience multiple high tide cycles of large waves later in the week. As Erin grows in size and pushes northward, it could also impact other disturbances meandering in the Atlantic. Scenic Highway In Florida To Get Extra Protection From Hurricanes, Erosion The NHC is actively tracking two disturbances across the Atlantic basin, but neither Norcross nor Rhome believe they are an immediate threat to land. "The more you stir up the ocean, the more likely you are to get to cool water in a wake. And indeed, the one that is not an invest that looks like it may eventually turn north, although the model's all over the place, and it might experience some of that cooler water, if it does indeed follow Erin," Norcross stated. "There's also really strong cold front coming down, a fall cold front, and a big dip in the jet stream coming down to the eastern part of the US, which is going to keep things away from the U.S. coast." Both disturbances may face impediments such as cold fronts, dry air, a significant trough and the wake of cooler water left over by Hurricane Erin. "These long-range predictions or models that you see people throwing around recklessly on social media - there's no predictability. There is no predictability at all," Rhome stated about the chances of tropical development outside of Erin. "I mean, anybody who does this seriously for a living knows that. And knows that there's not much of a signal there." For now, hurricane experts stress that residents from the Carolinas to New England should be paying attention and preparing for days of rough surf, dangerous rip currents, coastal flooding and article source: NHC's Jamie Rhome joins Bryan Norcross to answer questions on Hurricane Erin
