Tropical Storm Erin's path uncertain as steering patterns shift in Atlantic
The National Hurricane Centre now predicts Erin will strengthen into a Category 1 hurricane by the end of the week, with the possibility of intensifying further over the weekend.
Favourable conditions, such as low wind shear, are expected to support development.
RELATED:
Two possible tracks emerging
The storm's impact will be dependent on how the upper-level steering patterns change over the next few days.
By Sunday, high pressure is expected to rebuild over the Atlantic Ocean, potentially pushing the hurricane westward and closer to the U.S. eastern seaboard.
Another potential outcome is that a diving trough sweeping across eastern Canada will absorb the storm and direct it towards Atlantic Canada. Forecasters say the precise timing of this trough is a major uncertainty.
MUST SEE:
Risks remain despite uncertainty
Even without a clear track, the likelihood of dangerous surf and rip currents is expected to increase along certain sections of the shoreline.
Meteorologists warn that minor changes in the storm's path could result in significant differences in who experiences impacts.
Forecasters will continue to closely monitor the storm in the coming days, with a more complete picture expected early next week.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Rapid intensification? Hurricane forecasters say Erin's winds could skyrocket.
Tropical Storm Erin, now spinning far out in the central Atlantic Ocean, could undergo rapid intensification into a powerful 125-mph hurricane over the next few days, meteorologists said in an Aug. 14 advisory. This phenomenon can cause a tropical storm to escalate into a hurricane or a hurricane to jump one or more categories on the Saffir-Simpson scale in less than a day. An early Aug. 14 forecast from the National Hurricane Center said that Erin was forecast to undergo rapid intensification, but based on new data, a later forecast called for "steady" intensification over the next few days. "Erin is moving into an environment with very warm water temperatures, and it's not going to exit that environment for at least 5 or 6 days," said Houston-based meteorologist Matt Lanza in his Substack The Eyewall. "Erin should begin to tap into this environment over the next couple days, and it's possible that we see a burst of rapid intensification at some point." Regardless, the environment ahead looks ripe for Erin to become a powerful major (Category 3 or stronger) hurricane this weekend, and the storm is forecast to be nearing Category 4 strength as it turns into the western Atlantic early next week, noted WPLG hurricane specialist Michael Lowry in an Aug. 14 Substack post. Though not currently thought to be direct threat to land, Erin's waves are forecast to batter the East Coast with high surf and the threat of dangerous rip currents for beachgoers. What is rapid intensification? Why is it dangerous? Rapid intensification is a process in which a storm undergoes accelerated growth: The phenomenon is typically defined to be a tropical cyclone (whether a tropical storm or hurricane) intensifying by at least 35 mph in a 24-hour period. As of the 11 a.m. ET advisory from the hurricane center, a rise of 30 mph in 24 hours is expected. Whatever happens with Erin, rapidly intensifying tropical storms and hurricanes are especially dangerous because they can give the public less time to prepare and often catch people off guard, AccuWeather said. "Predicting a storm's peak intensity and its intensity at landfall is one of the most difficult aspects of weather forecasting, and a rapidly intensifying hurricane adds tremendously to that challenge," according to AccuWeather. What causes rapid intensification? "Rapid intensification occurs when a tropical storm or hurricane encounters an extremely conducive environment," Colorado State University hurricane researcher Phil Klotzbach said. "Typically, this environment consists of very warm water, low vertical wind shear and high levels of midlevel moisture." Such sudden spikes have been the hallmark of history's most fearsome hurricanes, Ken Graham, former director of the hurricane center and now director of the National Weather Service, told USA TODAY in 2022. Out of the nine hurricanes with winds of 150 mph or greater that struck the U.S. mainland over 103 years, all but one saw the explosion of force and power known as rapid intensification. What is the Saffir-Simpson scale? Hurricanes are measured by wind speed, with the higher categories on the Saffir-Simpson scale corresponding to more intense storms. Here's the full scale: Category / Sustained Winds: 1: 74-95 mph 2: 96-110 mph 3: 111-129 mph 4: 130-156 mph 5: 157 mph or higher This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Hurricane 'rapid intensification' worries return with Erin
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Rain delay for Detroit Tigers vs. Minnesota Twins at Target Field. When is first pitch?
MINNEAPOLIS — Rain has delayed the Detroit Tigers for the third time during their ongoing road trip. The Tigers and Minnesota Twins entered a rain delay Friday, Aug. 15, before starting the second of four games in the series at Target Field, but a new time for first pitch hasn't been announced. The game isn't expected to be postponed. First pitch was initially set for 8:10 p.m. ET. RAFFY TIME: Rafael Montero steps up in 1st big moment with Tigers. Can he become key reliever? For the Tigers, right-hander Charlie Morton is scheduled to start Friday's game. Meanwhile, the Twins are starting right-hander Pierson Ohl, but he hasn't completed more than three innings in any of his four appearances this season. Before Friday's delay, the Tigers experienced rain delays Monday, Aug. 11, in the ninth inning and Tuesday, Aug. 12, before the first inning against the Chicago White Sox at Rate Field in Chicago. After Friday's game, the Tigers will have two games remaining on their seven-game road trip, both against the Twins. This story will be updated. Contact Evan Petzold at epetzold@ or follow him @EvanPetzold. Listen to our weekly Tigers show "Days of Roar" every Monday afternoon on Apple, Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts. And catch all of our podcasts and daily voice briefing at This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Tigers rain delay vs. Minnesota Twins at Target Field
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Yahoo
Erin likely to grow into a major hurricane this weekend
Erin intensified into the first hurricane of the 2025 Atlantic season on Friday morning as it continues to organize east of the Lesser Antilles. Forecasters expect the system to grow into a formidable major hurricane by this weekend, with the latest prediction calling for a Category 4 hurricane by Sunday. All interests in the Antilles, Bermuda, eastern U.S., and Atlantic Canada should continue to monitor the progress of this storm in the days ahead. DON'T MISS: Erin expected to steadily strengthen Hurricane hunters flying through the storm Friday morning found that Erin's winds had increased to 120 km/h, making it the first hurricane in the Atlantic this season. Erin will continue tracking west-northwest over the next couple of days, with the core of the storm passing north of the Lesser Antilles. The hurricane's outer bands may affect several of the islands through Saturday, prompting tropical storm watches for: Anguilla and Barbuda St. Martin and St. Barthelemy Saba and St. Eustatius Sint Maarten Gusty winds and heavy rainfall are possible across these islands as Erin passes north of the region over the next couple of days. The latest advisory from the U.S. National Hurricane Center (NHC) calls for 'steady to rapid strengthening' into a major hurricane by Saturday, potentially growing into a high-end hurricane by Sunday. Potential Canadian impacts uncertain at this time Forecasters expect a ridge of high pressure over the central Atlantic to weaken in the days ahead, which will allow Erin to begin turning toward the north through the first half of next week. Interests across the U.S. East Coast and Bermuda should closely monitor the track of the storm as it curves through the region over the next five to seven days. SEE ALSO: Current signals show that steering winds may allow Erin to then turn northeast and track around that ridge in the central Atlantic. However, a trough swinging across Eastern Canada also has the potential to 'absorb' the hurricane and swing it back toward Atlantic Canada. The timing of this trough is highly uncertain at this time, but it highlights that folks across the region should continue closely monitoring the latest updates. Rip currents a major hazard Regardless of Erin's track, rough surf and rip currents will pose a significant hazard to beaches throughout the Antilles, eastern U.S., Bermuda, and Atlantic Canada as the hurricane both strengthens and grows in size over the next week. Rip currents form when waves hit the beach head-on, creating narrow currents of water that rush back out to sea. STAY SAFE: These currents don't pull you underwater like they show on television—instead, they quickly pull you away from the beach out to sea. Swimmers often exhaust themselves trying to fight against the current, sometimes to the point of succumbing to the waves. Always heed the advice and orders of local officials and stay out of the water if there's a threat for rip currents. Don't panic if you're ever caught in a rip current. If you can't swim, calmly signal for help and tread water until assistance arrives. Swimmers should swim parallel to the beach until you're out of the rip current, then swim back to shore. WATCH: What is a rip current and what makes it so dangerous? Click here to view the video
