Hurricane Erin shifts path threatening millions with dangerous waves
However, the hurricane's proximity is creating hazardous conditions along the coast. Waves of 15 to 20 feet are expected, and heavy coastal erosion is likely in North Carolina as the storm moves slowly offshore over the next several days. North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein declared a state of emergency Tuesday in advance of the storm, delegating powers to government officials to mobilize workers and equipment along the coast.
'To folks on the coast, now is the time to prepare,' Stein said in a post on X. 'Check your emergency kits, make sure you have emergency alerts turned on, and listen to emergency guidance in case you need to evacuate.' Tropical storm conditions could spread into southeastern Virginia on Thursday, and strong winds and hazardous surf may affect the Mid-Atlantic, southern New England, and Atlantic Canada from Thursday through Saturday. ' Erin is a large hurricane. Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 90 miles from the center, and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 265 miles,' the NHC said.
The Category 2 hurricane's winds weaken to 100mph on Tuesday, but the NHC predicts the storm could see its winds increase to 110mph as it passes North Carolina on Thursday. Erin is creating potentially deadly water conditions all along the US East Coast days before are expected, with high winds and waves anticipated in North Carolina by Wednesday night. The hurricane was about 400 miles south-southeast of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, and 560 miles southwest of Bermuda as of Wednesday morning.
Erin's eye is forecast to pass about 200 miles offshore on Thursday afternoon. Stein said the storm is expected to bring tropical storm force winds, dangerous waves and rip currents to the state. Tropical storm conditions were expected to begin on Wednesday. At least 75 people were rescued from rip currents in Wrightsville Beach, near Wilmington, officials said. Evacuations were ordered on Hatteras Island and Ocracoke Island on the Outer Banks. The orders come at the height of tourist season on the thin stretch of low-lying barrier islands that jut far into the Atlantic Ocean.
There are concerns that several days of heavy surf, high winds and waves could wash out parts of the main highway running along the barrier islands, the National Weather Service (NWS) said. Warnings about rip currents have been posted from Bermuda and Florida up to the New England coast. South Carolina's coastal and low-country regions, including Charleston and Horry counties, are under warnings, worsened by saturated soils and potential storm surge. New Jersey currently has no active coastal flood advisories, but heavy rainfall and potential storm surge continue to pose a risk. A high danger of rip currents is in effect for all beaches through Wednesday evening.
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9m Americans under State of Emergency as Hurricane Erin barrels up East Coast
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BBC News
2 hours ago
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Watch as wind and waves from Hurricane Erin pound the US east coast
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The Independent
5 hours ago
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Hurricane Erin could bring wet weather to UK in coming days, Met Office says
Wet and windy weather could be on the way for the final days of the summer holidays as the remnants of Hurricane Erin might end the UK's dry spell. Forecasters are tracking the potential impact of Erin, which is currently a category two storm moving eastwards across the North Atlantic, but say any effect on the UK would not happen until at least the middle of next week. Met Office meteorologist Tom Morgan said: 'It is too early for specific details about which parts of the country will see the windiest and wettest weather. 'What we can say is that it will gradually turn less hot and be more generally changeable.' It means there could be thundery showers from Wednesday and 'more especially' on Thursday and Friday next week at which point the weather system will officially be an ex-hurricane. Mr Morgan added: 'We are also likely to see some very large waves. 'Ex-hurricane Erin will bring quite a large swell in the sea so we could potentially see waves of four to five metres in height for the western isles of Scotland and Ireland and so for holidaymakers going to the coast, that could prove quite a hazard.' He warned this potentially unsettled weather is still 'a long way in the future' and a spell of sunshine is due over the coming days for the long Bank Holiday weekend in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Earlier this week Erin had lost some strength from previous days and dropped to a category 2 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 105mph, the National Hurricane Centre in Miami said. By Tuesday it was about 650 miles (1,050km) south-west of Bermuda. Rough ocean conditions along the US east coast led to at least 60 swimmers being rescued from rip currents on Monday at Wrightsville Beach, near Wilmington, North Carolina. Currently UK temperatures are on the rise and could reach around 24C or 25C in a few spots on Sunday, across many regions from anywhere from the south of England up to the east of Scotland. He said: 'It's looking fine, dry and there will be quite a bit of warm sunshine around, particularly on Sunday and on Bank Holiday Monday. 'For festivals and outdoor events, the weather should not cause any disruption. 'It's looking very summer-like and really pleasant to warm for most.'
