Hurricane Erin back at Category 4, will bring dangerous surf to East Coast
'These rough ocean conditions will likely cause life-threatening surf and rip currents,' the National Hurricane Center wrote Monday.
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NBC News
27 minutes ago
- NBC News
Climate change is increasing the risk of rapidly intensifying storms. Hurricane Erin is the latest example.
Hurricane Erin strengthened back into a Category 4 behemoth over the weekend, the latest shift in what has been a remarkably fast-changing storm. The hurricane's behavior in recent days makes it one of the fastest-strengthening Atlantic hurricanes on record, and yet another indication that climate change is increasing the risk of rapidly intensifying storms. Erin became the first hurricane of this year's Atlantic season on Friday and exploded in strength from a Category 1 into a Category 5 storm in a little over 24 hours. Even after it weakened and re-strengthened into a Category 4 storm, Erin's jaw-dropping transformation ranks it among the five fastest storms to grow from Category 1 to Category 5. The hurricane is expected to grow larger and strengthen even more on Monday as it passes east of the Bahamas, according to the National Hurricane Center's latest advisory. Heavy rainfall is forecasted for parts of Hispaniola on Monday, and for Turks and Caicos and parts of the southeast and Central Bahamas through Tuesday. But it's the storm's 'rapid intensification' that has experts taking note. Rapid intensification describes an increase in sustained wind speeds of at least 35 mph over a 24-hour period, according to the National Hurricane Center. Erin's maximum sustained wind speed increased around 75 mph in 24 hours, from Friday morning into Saturday. Climate change is increasing the risk of rapidly intensifying storms, primarily due to warmer-than-usual sea surface temperatures and high levels of moisture in the atmosphere — key ingredients needed for storms to gather strength. Erin's journey near the Bahamas on Monday will take it over warm waters hovering in the mid-80 degree Fahrenheit range, which could help it intensify further. A warmer atmosphere as a result of global warming also holds more moisture, which enables storms to gather strength and dump more rainfall over land. A 2023 study published in the journal Scientific Reports found that tropical cyclones in the Atlantic Ocean were around 29% more likely to undergo rapid intensification from 2001 to 2020, compared to 1971 to 1990. Indeed, rapid intensification has been well documented in recent years. In 2019, Hurricane Dorian's peak winds increased from 150 mph to 185 mph in nine hours. Hurricane Ian in 2022 underwent two rounds of rapid intensification before it made landfall in Florida. Last year, Hurricane Milton's maximum sustained wind speed increased by an astonishing 90 mph in roughly 25 hours. Other recent examples of rapid intensification include Hurricane Harvey in 2017, Hurricane Laura in 2020, Hurricane Ida in 2021 and Hurricane Idalia in 2023. Still, the process of rapid intensification remains difficult to forecast. Scientists know that warm sea surface temperatures, moist air and favorable atmospheric conditions are necessary pieces of the puzzle, but understanding how it will happen for specific storms — and when — will require more research. In the coming days, the National Hurricane Center said Erin will move between Bermuda and the east coast of the United States. Though the storm is not expected to make a direct hit with land, the hurricane will generate swells, life-threatening surf and rip currents for the Bahamas, Bermuda, the eastern seaboard of the U.S. and Atlantic Canada.
CBS News
an hour ago
- CBS News
New Jersey, Delaware beaches prohibit swimming as Hurricane Erin moves closer to East Coast
As Hurricane Erin moves closer to the East Coast, it's stirring up powerful and dangerous rip currents that will affect our beaches and shore points. While the storm isn't making landfall, it's generating strong swells that are forecasted to build waves between 8 and 12 feet. Officials in Wildwood, New Jersey, and Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, have already prohibited swimming as a precaution, and more closures may follow as these forceful "rivers of the sea" surge toward the coast. Rip currents are narrow, fast-moving channels of water that race away from shore through the surf zone. They form when wave energy pushes water toward the beach, creating elevated water levels that drain seaward through gaps in sandbars or around structures like jetties and piers. Though they may look calm or deceptively safe, rip currents can move exceedingly fast and are the leading cause of beach rescues. Staying safe in these conditions means taking smart precautions. Swim only at beaches where lifeguards are on duty, heed all posted warnings and stay clear of piers or jetties where rip currents tend to be strongest — at least 100 feet away is best. If you find yourself caught in a rip, don't panic or try to swim directly back to shore. Instead, float calmly or tread water, then swim parallel to the beach to escape the flow. If that fails, float until the current dissipates and call for help. With Hurricane Erin expected to keep brewing dangerous surf, it's vital for beachgoers to stay informed and cautious in the coming days. Stay with the CBS News Philadelphia NEXT Weather team for more as we track the storm.
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Heavy rain coming to Hampton Roads ahead of Hurricane Erin; flooding and rip current threats expected
As Hurricane Erin moves its way toward Hampton Roads, meteorologists say heavy winds from the storm are going to make the expected flash flooding even worse. Eswar Iyer, a lead meteorologist at the National Weather Service in Wakefield, said heavy rain is coming to Hampton Roads starting Monday evening, but even when the rain stops, gusts of wind from Hurricane Erin will bring higher waters. Hurricane Erin's wind speeds increased 85 mph in the span of 24 hours this weekend, peaking at 160 mph Saturday morning, making it one of the fastest rapidly intensifying storms in history. '(The hurricane) will bring a variety of threats to the area — mainly dangerous marine conditions, widespread minor to moderate coastal flooding, and also some gusty winds up near the coast,' Iyer said. 'Before Erin gets near the area, later today we are expecting scattered and numerous showers and storms. Localized flooding is certainly possible, because some areas are going to probably see 2-3 inches of rain locally.' Iyer said the heavy rain will begin at about 2 p.m. Monday and continue late into the evening. Flash flooding is possible. Local nonprofit Wetlands Watch also sent out a 'high water watch' ahead of this week's flooding. Inundation of up to 2 feet above ground level in vulnerable areas is possible, beginning with the high tide cycle Tuesday night and continuing into Thursday. Hurricane Erin intensifies and grows as odds increase for new system right behind 'Hurricane Erin is coming and will run offshore from us, but is strong enough to bring winds and high tides our way, starting with a minor flood event on Tuesday's high tide (7 p.m. at Norfolk),' the report reads. 'Then, as Erin gets closer and blows by, the winds will increase further, bringing higher waters through the week.' Hurricane Erin is going to largely avoid the coast, but its effects will still be felt in coastal communities. Areas of the Outer Banks have begun evacuation protocols ahead of the storm. Dare County emergency officials declared a state of emergency Sunday afternoon and ordered an evacuation of Hatteras Island. The mandatory evacuation order was extended to Ocracoke, which also expects a life-threatening storm surge. Several days of heavy surf and high winds and waves could wash out parts of N.C. 12, which connects the popular vacation spot to the mainland. 'Don't just focus on the exact track for Erin. The impacts are going to be felt well, well outside the center of the cone,' Iyer said. 'Again, there will be dangerous marine conditions (and) a high rip current risk. Also there's increasing confidence of dune and beach erosion Wednesday into Thursday, as well.' Virginia Beach has a 42% chance of receiving storm-force winds from Hurricane Erin, with chances being lower for cities inland. Waves could reach 10 to 15 feet, gusts could potentially peak at 40-45 mph. Iyer said wind will peak Wednesday night through early Thursday afternoon. Rip current threats will also be very high. 'Obviously, if the (storm) track shifts further west, the probabilities will increase, and vice versa, if the track shifts further east, these will decrease,' Iyer said. 'But we will be watching this closely over the next few days.' Eliza Noe,
