N.C., Virginia under Hurricane Erin storm alerts, some East Coast beaches shut
The big picture: The storm is not forecast to make landfall in the United States, but forecasters warned of "life-threatening" storm surges, coastal overwash and flooding along the U.S. East Coast.
Mandatory evacuation orders are in effect in North Carolina's Dare and Hyde counties, including for Ocracoke and Hatteras islands,
Swimming bans and beach closures were in effect in N.C. and other states, including New York City's Long Island ocean beaches, and parts of New Jersey and Delaware due to flooding, rough surf conditions and potential rip tides from the hurricane.
Threat level: A storm surge warning is in effect for Cape Lookout to Duck, N.C. Beaufort Inlet, N.C., to Duck, including Pamlico and Albemarle sounds. are also under a tropical storm warning.
A tropical storm watch is in effect for north of Duck to Chincoteague, Virginia, and also Bermuda.
Highway 12 "will likely be washed out for several days," per a Hyde County Facebook post.
The NHC expects storm surges of up to 4 feet along parts of the N.C. coast. Portions of coastal South Carolina and Virginia, up to Chincoteague Island, Va., could see storm surges of 1-3 ft.
State of play: The now-Category 2 storm has fluctuated in intensity from a Category 5 hurricane for days and was expected to continue to do so this week.
The hurricane had maximum sustained winds of 105 mph some 570 miles south-southeast of Cape Hatteras, N.C., as it churned in a north-northwestly direction at 10 mph, per an 8pm Tuesday ET National Hurricane Center forecast discussion.
The NHC noted "Erin is a large hurricane," with hurricane-force winds extending outward up to 80 miles from the center and tropical-storm-force winds extending outward up to 230 miles.
The center of the storm was expected to pass to the east of the Bahamas on Tuesday night and then move over the western Atlantic between the U.S. East Coast and Bermuda on Wednesday and Thursday.
What's next: The storm was expected to pass between North Carolina and Bermuda within the next 24 to 36 hours, National Hurricane Center director Michael Brennan said in a Tuesday evening video update posted to the NHC's social media channels.
Although its not forecast to landfall in the United States, Brennan noted the hurricane's "expansive wind field" will "cause dangerous ocean conditions and life-threatening storm surges along the U.S. East Coast, particularly on the North Carolina Outer Banks."
The storm's "expansive wind field will cause dangerous ocean conditions and life-threatening storm surges along the U.S. East Coast, particularly on the North Carolina Outer Banks," Brennan said.
"Significant inundation is also predicted for northeastern South Carolina and the Hampton Roads area. Rip current risks are high from Florida to New England."
Background: Erin formed as a tropical storm on Aug. 11 and became on Friday the first hurricane of the 2025 Atlantic season.
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Boston Globe
an hour ago
- Boston Globe
New England dries out a bit Thursday, but winds and high surf ramp up as Erin approaches
Staying cool in the upper 50s and low 60s, and drying out after a few early-morning sprinkles. The skies across Greater Boston should turn from mostly cloudy to partly sunny in the afternoon. Highs will reach around 70 degrees. Hurricane Erin will lurk close to New England and increase winds throughout the day. Boston and the Southern New England coast may feel a healthy easterly breeze to about 15 miles per hour, with gusts ranging from 20 to 30 miles per hour into the evening. A few showers could push into Southern New England later Thursday, but mostly south of the Mass Pike and near the shore. Staying partly cloudy overnight with lows around 60 with gusts continuing. Advertisement Highs on Thursday will reach the low 70s for most of the region. Boston Globe The setup — breezy conditions build as Erin nears Wednesday's system will clear the region by early Thursday morning, with most showers wrapping up before we get up for the day. For early commuters, you may see some patches of fog with lingering sprinkles, but Boston should be clear of raindrops by the time you get going. It might be a good idea to pack the umbrella just in case there is a spot shower lingering. Advertisement High pressure will build near the region, leading to decreasing clouds throughout the day. Northern New England sees sunshine before Boston does, but eventually, mostly cloudy skies in the morning should lead to more periods of sunshine in the afternoon. Not everyone will see afternoon sunshine, however, as Erin's outermost clouds infringe on Massachusetts' South Coast and the Cape and Islands. There may be a shower or two that clip the Cape later in the day. This high pressure is perfectly timed as Erin makes a near approach to New England Thursday, directing the storm out to sea. The storm's eye will pass more than 400 miles offshore, but the pressure difference between Erin and the building high pressure to the northwest of New England will be felt. Aside from the few sprinkles on the Cape from Erin, Boston and coastal Southern New England will feel the gusty conditions build during the day. Wind speeds will be from the east, thanks to the strong counterclockwise rotation of Erin, at about 10 to 15 miles per hour. Wind gusts will build to 20 to 30 miles per hour Thursday afternoon in Boston, the North and South Shores, the Cape and Islands, and along the South Coast and Southern Rhode Island. The strongest wind gusts will be concentrated over the Cape and Islands Thursday night into Friday morning. Breezy conditions will develop throughout Thursday and into Friday. Some gusts across the Southeast may build to 30 mph. Boston Globe High surf advisory, dangerous rip currents With Erin approaching, high surf and rip currents will stretch along the New England shoreline. Some breaking waves could reach as high as 15 to 20 feet. Boston will be protected by the harbor, but if you have beach plans, I wouldn't risk taking a dip in the ocean or a boat out to sea; it'll be too choppy out there and, quite frankly, dangerous. Advertisement High surf advisories and rip current statements have been posted through Saturday for parts of the New England coastline. Boston Globe The high pressure will also bring more dry air into the region to close out the work week, keeping dew points around 60 degrees on Thursday, with Friday and Saturday closer to the mid-50s. Dew points will stay low enough to keep the air feeling comfortable through the rest of the work week. Boston Globe Highs on Friday will reach the mid to upper 70s, with some folks breaking into the low 80s. Boston Globe Wednesday's breakdown Greater Boston: A chance for an early-morning sprinkle, then drying out. Turning from mostly cloudy to overcast to partly sunny skies in the afternoon. There is a very low chance of a late shower near the city later in the day. Highs near 70. Breeze picks up in the afternoon with gusts of 20 mph or higher later Thursday. Southeastern Mass.: A chance for a morning sprinkle, otherwise mostly dry with some thinning clouds. Chance for more clouds in the afternoon with highs in the upper 60s and low 70s. Breeze picks up throughout the day with gusts to 20 mph or higher. Central/Western Mass.: A mostly cloudy start with some clouds breaking as the day goes on. Highs to the low 70s from Worcester to Springfield, mid- to upper 60s across the Berkshires. A slight breeze in the afternoon and evening. Cape and Islands: Seeing mostly cloudy skies with the chance for a sprinkle or brief shower. Highs in the upper 60s and low 70s. Breeze picks up as the day goes on with some gusts to 30 mph Thursday night into Friday. Rhode Island: Seeing mostly cloudy skies with a low chance for an afternoon sprinkle south of Providence. Otherwise, some sun is breaking through north of Providence. Highs to the upper 60s and low 70s. Advertisement New Hampshire: Different weather up north! Clearing skies early with partly to mostly sunny skies on Thursday. Highs in the low and mid-70s. A slight breeze of about 10 to 15 mph. Vermont/Maine: Partly to mostly sunny skies across both states with highs ranging in the 70s. A breeze of about 10 mph. A look at the forecast across Boston for the next seven days. Boston Globe for our , which will arrive straight into your inbox bright and early each weekday morning. Ken Mahan can be reached at
San Francisco Chronicle
an hour ago
- San Francisco Chronicle
2 more beachfront homes near collapse as Hurricane Erin's waves pound North Carolina's Outer Banks
Two homes on the North Carolina Outer Banks sit precariously in the high waves with their days seemingly numbered. Since 2020, 11 neighboring homes have fallen into the Atlantic Ocean. While the swells from storms like Hurricane Erin make things worse, the conditions threatening the houses are always present — beach erosion and climate change are sending the ocean closer and closer to their front doors. The two houses in the surf in Rodanthe have received plenty of attention as Erin passes several hundred miles (kilometers) to the east. The village of about 200 people sticks out further into the Atlantic than any other part of North Carolina. Jan Richards looked at the houses Tuesday as high tides sent surges of water into the support beams on the two-story homes. She gestured where two other houses used to be before their recent collapse. 'The one in the middle fell last year. It fell into that house. So you can see where it crashed into that house. But that has been really resilient and has stayed put up until probably this storm,' Richards said. The ocean has destroyed at least 11 houses since 2020 At least 11 other houses have toppled into the surf in Rodanthe in the past five years, according to the National Park Service, which oversees much of the Outer Banks. Barrier islands like the Outer Banks were never an ideal place for development, according to experts. The islands typically form as waves deposit sediment off the mainland. And they move based on weather patterns and other ocean forces. Some even disappear. Decades ago, houses and other buildings were smaller, less elaborate and easier to move from the encroaching surf, said David Hallac, superintendent of the Cape Hatteras National Seashore. 'Perhaps it was more well understood in the past that the barrier island was dynamic, that it was moving,' Hallac said. 'And if you built something on the beachfront it may not be there forever or it may need to be moved.' The Outer Banks even had to move their famous lighthouse from the sea Even the largest structures aren't immune. Twenty-six years ago the Outer Banks most famous landmark, the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse had to be moved over a half-mile (880 meters) inland. When it was built in 1870, the lighthouse was 1,500 feet (457 meters) from the ocean. Fifty years later, the Atlantic was 300 feet (91 meters) away. And erosion keeps coming. Some places along the Outer Banks lose as much as 10 to 15 feet (3 to 4.5 meters) of beachfront a year, Hallac said. 'And so every year, 10 to 15 feet of that white sandy beach is gone,' Hallac said. 'And then the dunes and then the back-dune area. And then all of a sudden, the foreshore, that area between low water and high water, is right up next to somebody's backyard. And then the erosion continues.' 'Like a toothpick in wet sand' The ocean attacks the houses by the wooden pilings that provide their foundation and keep them above the water. The supports could be 15 feet (4.5 meters) deep. But the surf slowly takes away the sand that is packed around them. 'It's like a toothpick in wet sand or even a beach umbrella,' Hallac said. 'The deeper you put it, the more likely it is to stand up straight and resist leaning over. But if you only put it down a few inches, it doesn't take much wind for that umbrella to start leaning. And it starts to tip over.' A single home collapse can shed debris up to 15 miles (25 kilometers) along the coast, according to a report from a group of federal, state and local officials who are studying threatened oceanfront structures in North Carolina. Collapses can injure beachgoers and lead to potential contamination from septic tanks, among other environmental concerns. There are solutions but they are expensive Among the possible solutions is hauling dredged sand to eroding beaches, something that is already being done in other communities on the Outer Banks and East Coast. But it could cost $40 million or more in Rodanthe, posing a major financial challenge for its small tax base. Other ideas include buying out threatened properties, moving or demolishing them. But those options are also very expensive. And funding is limited. Braxton Davis, executive director of the North Carolina Coastal Federation, a nonprofit, said the problem isn't limited to Rodanthe or even to North Carolina. He pointed to erosion issues along California's coast, the Great Lakes and some of the nation's rivers. 'This is a national issue,' Davis said, adding that sea levels are rising and 'the situation is only going to become worse.'
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Hurricane Erin grows bigger and stronger. Latest forecast, impacts on Jersey Shore.
The already massive Hurricane Erin grew even bigger and stronger Wednesday afternoon, and the storm may strengthen into a major Category 3 hurricane by Wednesday night. That's the latest word from the National Hurricane Center, which continues to warn beach-goers up and down the East Coast — including the entire Jersey Shore — to stay out of the Atlantic Ocean during the next two days. Turbulent seas, huge breaking waves and powerful rip currents will all create life-threatening conditions for boaters and swimmers both Wednesday and Thursday, according to weather forecasters and public officials. Erin's top sustained winds are blowing at 110 mph, making it a high-level Category 2 hurricane — just short of returning to 'major hurricane' status. In addition to its growing strength, Erin's size is massive. The storm is now more than 800 miles wide as it continues to churn northward off the eastern Atlantic coast. Forecasters say hurricane-force winds are now stretching out as far as 105 miles from Erin's center, and tropical storm-force winds extend outward to 265 miles. As of Wednesday afternoon, Hurricane Erin's center was about 530 miles west of Bermuda, 335 miles south-southeast of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, and about 635 miles south of Cape May, New Jersey. At its closest pass, Erin's center is expected to be spinning about 350 to 400 miles southeast of Cape May on Thursday. That is close enough for the storm to bring 40 to 50 mph wind gusts, huge waves and dangerous rip currents to beaches in Atlantic, Cape May, Monmouth and Ocean counties, forecasters say. Minor to moderate coastal flooding is expected along the Jersey Shore, with some areas at risk of major flooding — particularly during high tide cycles Thursday evening through Friday evening, according to the National Weather Service. Major coastal flooding and tidal flooding is possible in Cape May County, the agency noted. Emergency management officials in Cape May County noted that 'forecasts indicate a peak (tidal) surge of 1 to 3 feet in the Delaware Bay, which may impact low-lying areas of bayside communities in Middle Township, Dennis Township, and surrounding areas.' Latest weather alerts in N.J. Wind advisory: Atlantic, Cape May and Ocean counties from 10 a.m. Thursday to midnight Thursday. Steady northeast winds of 25 to 35 mph, with gusts up to 50 mph expected. Coastal flood warning: Atlantic and Cape May counties from 5 p.m. Wednesday to 2 a.m. Saturday. The greatest impacts from coastal flooding are expected with the Thursday evening high tide. Locally major flooding impacts are possible. Coastal flood watch: Cumberland, Ocean, Middlesex, Monmouth and southeastern Burlington counties until 2 a.m. Saturday. One to two feet of inundation above ground level possible in low- lying areas near shorelines and tidal waterways. High surf advisory: Atlantic, Cape May, Monmouth and Ocean counties now until Friday at 6 p.m. Large breaking waves of 5 to 8 feet are expected in the surf zone on Wednesday, and breaking waves as high as 7 to 12 feet are expected on Thursday. Rip current alert: Forecasters are warning beach-goers about a high risk of life-threatening rip currents at all ocean beaches in Atlantic, Cape May, Monmouth and Ocean counties on Wednesday and Thursday, possibly extending into Friday. Current weather radar Thank you for relying on us to provide the local weather news you can trust. Please consider supporting with a voluntary subscription. Len Melisurgo may be reached at LMelisurgo@ or on X at @LensReality.
