Hurricane Erin threatens stretch of US East Coast with storm surge
The National Hurricane Center warned that roads in the low-lying barrier islands may become impassable, with waves as high as six metres
crashing ashore. The heavy surf is likely to result in significant beach erosion, it said in its 8 a.m. EDT update.
North Carolina Governor Josh Stein declared a state of emergency on Tuesday, freeing up state money and manpower to help during the storm and its aftermath.
Tropical storm and storm-surge warnings are in place for other parts of the North Carolina coastline.
Earlier in the week, the coastal counties of Dare and Hyde - which encompass most of the Outer Banks - ordered residents and tourists to evacuate the vulnerable Ocracoke and Hatteras islands, whose populations swell during the summer months.
Local media reported that ferries took more than 2,220 people off Ocracoke, with the final sailing scheduled for 11 a.m. on Wednesday. Ferries to Hatteras will continue to operate as long as conditions allow, according to ABC News affiliate WCTI.
But Chris Styron, manager of the Pony Island Inn on Ocracoke, is ignoring the evacuation orders and staying to watch over the 50-room hotel.
"We're used to storms like this," Styron said. "I'm born and raised here. We're not really worried - it's so far offshore."
The eye of Erin, rated as a Category 2 storm with sustained winds of 155 km/h, was expected to move midway between the US East Coast and Bermuda on Wednesday and Thursday as it traveled northward, the NHC said. That trajectory will keep the worst of its winds offshore.
"LIFE-THREATENING SURF AND RIP CURRENTS"
Tropical-storm-force winds extend up to 426 km from the storm's center, with hurricane-force winds extending for 145 kilometres.
The NHC warned beachgoers along most of the East Coast to stay out of the water because of "life-threatening surf and rip currents."
Along the New Jersey shore, swimming and other water activities were prohibited on beaches from Cape May north to Sandy Hook, with high surf and rip current warnings in effect into Friday, the NWS said. Coastal flooding is expected to peak during high tide on Thursday.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams ordered all city public beaches - including Coney Island and Brighton Beach - to close Wednesday and Thursday.
Fortunately, temperatures in New York were expected to be seasonably cool on Wednesday and Thursday, with highs only reaching 12 Celcius, well below the average of 28 Celcius.
Erin, the fifth named storm of the 2025 Atlantic season and the first to attain hurricane status, had strengthened to a Category 5 storm. The last Atlantic storm to reach that intensity was Hurricane Milton in October 2024.
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Hurricane Erin brings coastal flooding to North Carolina, Virginia in US
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CNA
5 hours ago
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Hurricane Erin brings coastal flooding to North Carolina, Virginia
WASHINGTON: Hurricane Erin brought coastal flooding to parts of North Carolina and Virginia as it made its closest approach to the United States mainland early on Thursday (Aug 21). High waves washed over Highway 12 that links the Outer Banks island chain, making parts impassable, images posted by local authorities showed - proving the giant storm's ability to kick up dangerous seas hundreds of miles from its centre. Though the Mid-Atlantic bore the brunt of the impacts, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) urged beachgoers throughout the entire East Coast to refrain from swimming to avoid being caught in potentially life-threatening conditions. In a morning update, the NHC said Category 2 Erin was packing winds of 169kmh and creeping slowly north-northeast. It is expected to weaken as it moves further out to sea in the next couple of days. The Atlantic hurricane season, which runs from Jun 1 to Nov 30, has entered its historical peak. Despite a relatively quiet start with just five named storms so far, including Erin, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration continues to forecast an above-normal season. Scientists say climate change is supercharging tropical cyclones: warmer oceans fuel stronger winds, a warmer atmosphere intensifies rainfall and higher sea levels magnify storm surge.
CNA
a day ago
- CNA
Hurricane Erin threatens stretch of US East Coast with storm surge
NORTH CAROLINA: Hurricane Erin, churning north in the Atlantic hundreds of kilometres offshore, is expected to trigger a dangerous storm surge and tropical storm conditions on Wednesday (Aug 20) along North Carolina's Outer Banks and other stretches of the US East Coast. The National Hurricane Center warned that roads in the low-lying barrier islands may become impassable, with waves as high as six metres crashing ashore. The heavy surf is likely to result in significant beach erosion, it said in its 8 a.m. EDT update. North Carolina Governor Josh Stein declared a state of emergency on Tuesday, freeing up state money and manpower to help during the storm and its aftermath. Tropical storm and storm-surge warnings are in place for other parts of the North Carolina coastline. Earlier in the week, the coastal counties of Dare and Hyde - which encompass most of the Outer Banks - ordered residents and tourists to evacuate the vulnerable Ocracoke and Hatteras islands, whose populations swell during the summer months. Local media reported that ferries took more than 2,220 people off Ocracoke, with the final sailing scheduled for 11 a.m. on Wednesday. Ferries to Hatteras will continue to operate as long as conditions allow, according to ABC News affiliate WCTI. But Chris Styron, manager of the Pony Island Inn on Ocracoke, is ignoring the evacuation orders and staying to watch over the 50-room hotel. "We're used to storms like this," Styron said. "I'm born and raised here. We're not really worried - it's so far offshore." The eye of Erin, rated as a Category 2 storm with sustained winds of 155 km/h, was expected to move midway between the US East Coast and Bermuda on Wednesday and Thursday as it traveled northward, the NHC said. That trajectory will keep the worst of its winds offshore. "LIFE-THREATENING SURF AND RIP CURRENTS" Tropical-storm-force winds extend up to 426 km from the storm's center, with hurricane-force winds extending for 145 kilometres. The NHC warned beachgoers along most of the East Coast to stay out of the water because of "life-threatening surf and rip currents." Along the New Jersey shore, swimming and other water activities were prohibited on beaches from Cape May north to Sandy Hook, with high surf and rip current warnings in effect into Friday, the NWS said. Coastal flooding is expected to peak during high tide on Thursday. New York City Mayor Eric Adams ordered all city public beaches - including Coney Island and Brighton Beach - to close Wednesday and Thursday. Fortunately, temperatures in New York were expected to be seasonably cool on Wednesday and Thursday, with highs only reaching 12 Celcius, well below the average of 28 Celcius. Erin, the fifth named storm of the 2025 Atlantic season and the first to attain hurricane status, had strengthened to a Category 5 storm. The last Atlantic storm to reach that intensity was Hurricane Milton in October 2024.
