Watch Hurricane Erin live as terrifying tracker shows 140mph winds battering coast
The storm intensified to a Category 4 on Monday evening while pelting the Turks and Caicos Islands, and the southeast Bahamas.
Government officials in the Turks and Caicos Islands said all services were suspended on three of its islands and ordered residents there to stay home. Some ports also closed.
Although the hurricane wasn't expected to make landfall in the US, residents on North Carolina's Outer Banks were evacuated amid fears of costal flooding.
Meanwhile, evacuations that began Monday on Hatteras Island and Ocracoke came at the height of tourist season on the thin stretch of low-lying barrier islands that jut into the Atlantic Ocean and are increasingly vulnerable to storm surges.
This time there are concerns that several days of heavy surf, high winds and waves could wash out parts of the main highway, the National Weather Service said. Some routes could be impassible for several days, authorities warned.
"You're dealing with a major hurricane. The intensity is fluctuating. It's a dangerous hurricane in any event," the hurricane centre's Richard Pasch said.
Bermuda will experience the most severe threat on Thursday evening, according to Phil Rogers, director of the Bermuda Weather Service. By then, waters could swell up to 24 feet.
"Surfers, swimmers and boaters must resist the temptation to go out. The waters will be very dangerous and lives will be placed at risk," acting Minister of National Security Jache Adams said.
Officials at the Wrightsville Beach, near Wilmington, North Carolina, reported to the National Weather Service rescuing at least 60 swimmers from rip currents on Monday.
Tourists and residents waited for hours in a line of cars at Ocracoke Island's ferry dock — the only way to leave other than by plane.
"We definitely thought twice," said Seth Brotherton, of Catfish, North Carolina, whose weeklong fishing trip ended after two days. "But they said 'mandatory' and that pretty much means, 'get out of here.'"
Scientists have linked the rapid intensification of hurricanes in the Atlantic to climate change. Global warming is causing the atmosphere to hold more water vapor and is spiking ocean temperatures, and warmer waters give hurricanes fuel to unleash more rain and strengthen more quickly.
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Scottish Sun
28 minutes ago
- Scottish Sun
Weather expert reveals how Hurricane Erin will impact Scotland as 140mph storm hurtles across Atlantic
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A WEATHER expert has assured Scots not to be 'concerned' about Hurricane Erin. The tail end of the weather phenomenon is expected to hit the country this weekend. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 3 Red flags, indicating swimming is prohibited, are raised at a beach in North Carolina Credit: AP 3 STV weatherman has revealed Hurricane Erin's impact on Scotland Credit: Handout The Met Office has warned that the major category three hurricane will cross the Atlantic, possibly reaching UK shores by Sunday night. The forecaster said the weather could become increasingly unsettled, with the risk of heavy downpours and windy weather to come. No official weather warnings have been issued, but teams will continue to monitor the situation as the storm crosses The Pond. It could spell an end to the country's long spell of dry weather, with the UK on track for one of its hottest summers on record. And STV meteorologist Sean Batty has put Scots minds at rest with his forecast. He said: 'The vast majority of current computer models don't indicate any significant impact on the UK next week. 'That said, forecasting the remnants of hurricanes can be tricky, especially this far in advance. 'Right now, only about 5-10 per cent of models show a deep low-pressure system west of the UK by Monday. 'A more likely outcome is that Erin's remnants will simply bring an end to the drier, more settled weather we've been enjoying, leading to more changeable conditions later next week. 'As it stands, there's nothing that raises concern. However, if that changes, I'll be sure to keep you updated.' Thousands without power as Hurricane Erin batters Caribbean & barrels towards US amid warnings storm will strengthen However meteorologist Marco Petagna admitted there was still uncertainty as to how much of an impact the hurricane would have. He said: "Any remnants of the hurricane aren't expected to have an impact on the UK until early next week. "From late Sunday the uncertainty starts to kick in. There's a risk of rain developing, a potential for things to turn increasingly unsettled. "It's likely becoming more unsettled early to middle part of next week, at this stage we can't be too firm on the details.
The Herald Scotland
2 hours ago
- The Herald Scotland
Hurricane Erin live updates: Storm threatens East Coast, Outer Banks
Category 3 Hurricane Erin had 115 mph winds, with gusts up to 155 mph early Tuesday, and had slowed to a 7 mph crawl, as it battled headwinds, the National Hurricane Center said. It appeared to begin making the long forecast northward turn that will steer it away from a landfall on the U.S. mainland, the center said. But given its large and expanding wind fields, storm-driven waves, coastal erosion, and high seas are expected to batter areas of the coast, especially along the Outer Banks, the barrier islands that fringe the coast of North Carolina. At 5 a.m. ET on Tuesday, Erin was about 675 miles southwest of Bermuda and 750 miles south-southeast of Cape Hatteras. It's forecast to plod a path between the two on Thursday. "Erin forecast to substantially grow in size while moving over the western Atlantic through the week," National Hurricane Center Meteorologist Robbie Berg wrote in a public advisory. "Dangerous rip currents expected along U.S. East Coast beaches." Erin's strength could still fluctuate before it finally begins to wind down later in the week, according to the center's forecast. Tropical storm and storm surge watches are in effect for parts of the Outer Banks and coastal North Carolina, which means tropical storm winds and higher-than-normal sea levels are possible. The hurricane center warned that storm surge could cause the water to rise 2 to 4 feet above dry ground along the Outer Banks as Erin pushes northward. The storm-tossed ocean is forecast to wash over low-lying portions of the islands and render the main transportation route, Highway 12, impassable in several locations for several days. Dangerous conditions in the surf zone with large, breaking waves are forecast from East Central Florida to Canada's Atlantic Coast beginning Tuesday, Hurricane Center Director Michael Brennan has warned. Brennan is pleading with U.S. residents to take Erin's potential coastal impacts seriously, even though the nation will be spared a direct landfall. Offshore wave heights could exceed 20 to 30 feet. High tides are also expected to bring higher-than-normal water levels further southward along the coast, the weather service has warned. "It's not going to be a safe environment to be in the ocean," Brennan said, adding that even when the weather may be pleasant on shore, dangerous and possibly life-threatening rip currents could be lurking in the water. Because of its slow movement, coastal areas of North Carolina are expected to feel the brunt of the ocean's impacts for several days, according to the weather service office in Newport/Morehead City. Mandatory evacuations were issued Aug. 18 for Hatteras Island and Ocracoke Island. At its closest point, Erin is forecast to be about 200 miles off Cape Hatteras. Erin's mean diameter at 11 p.m. on Aug. 18 was roughly 355 miles, but the storm was creating 10-foot seas across an area of the Atlantic Ocean roughly 645 miles in diameter, according to hurricane center data. Hurricane force winds extend outward up to 80 miles from the center, with the greatest distance on the eastern side of the storm. Further south along the North Carolina coast, emergency officials rescued at least 60 people caught in rip currents and heavy surf on Aug. 18 in Wrightsville Beach, prompting a "no swimming" advisory through Friday. Following behind Erin is yet another tropical wave that's given a 60% chance of becoming a tropical storm over the next seven days, the hurricane center said. A third disturbance just moved off the West African coast, but it's expected to encounter hostile conditions that may limit its further development. Erin formed on Aug. 11 from a tropical wave that moved across the Cabo Verde Islands. By Aug. 15, it was a hurricane and quickly joined the ranks of the fastest intensifying hurricanes in Atlantic history, increasing its winds by 85 mph in about 21 hours. It has mostly spared the islands along the Eastern Caribbean but soaked Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, and portions of the Southeastern Bahamas with up to 8 inches of rain. Its winds caused widespread power outages in Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. Though the Atlantic hurricane season that started June 1 is forecast to be more active than normal, Dan Brown, branch chief of the center's hurricane specialists, said that Erin's formation has no bearing on what may happen later in the season. And Leroy Silvers, a research scientist at Colorado State University, pointed out that it only takes one intense landfalling hurricane to make it a disastrous season.
The Independent
3 hours ago
- The Independent
Dangerous heat descends on California and the Southwest, raising wildfire risk
A dangerous heat wave descended on much of California and the U.S. Southwest, with triple-digit temperatures expected along with a higher risk of wildfires. Officials opened cooling centers this week in Los Angeles, where residents are warned to avoid strenuous outdoor activities. California Gov. Gavin Newsom ordered state firefighting resources deployed in areas where blazes could ignite. Here's what you need to know. Sizzling hot The National Weather Service issued an extreme heat warning for Southern California starting Wednesday into the weekend. If outdoor activities can't be avoided, forecasters say, they should be moved to early morning hours. And everyone should hydrate. Downtown Los Angeles was forecast to reach 94 degrees Fahrenheit (34 degrees Celsius), while valleys to the north braced for temperatures as high as 108 F (42 C). It will be several degrees hotter in desert areas. Candice Catlett, who uses a wheelchair, rolled herself toward some shade as temperatures started spiking Tuesday in downtown LA. 'It's sizzling hot out here,' Catlett said. 'I have sunblock. Hopefully, I can find some cold water. I'm trying to stay out of the direct sun.' Further north, nearly-always-hot Death Valley could see a severe 120 F (49 C), the weather service said. In Arizona, the peak of the heat wave will hit Thursday and Friday, with the mercury possibly reaching 110 F (43 C) in the southern and western parts of the state. Similar temperatures were likely in Las Vegas. Fire risk Red flag warnings, signaling elevated wildfire danger, have been issued across Los Angeles, Ventura, Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties until Saturday. 'If you live in a high fire danger area in the mountains or foothills, review your evacuation plans and route and stay tuned to your local emergency officials,' the weather service said in a statement. The state has sent 10 fire engines and multiple firefighting teams to LA County to assist local agencies if blazes break out. 'By prepositioning firefighting crews, equipment, and other resources in high-risk areas, we can respond faster and more effectively when needed," said Nancy Ward, director of the Governor's Office of Emergency Services. In the Sierra Nevada, higher than normal temperatures, low humidity and the possibility of lightning storms will contribute to the fire risk. California's largest blaze this year, the Gifford Fire, reached 95% containment Tuesday after charring nearly 206 square miles (534 square kilometers) of San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara counties since erupting on Aug. 1. The cause is under investigation.
