Hurricane Erin, now a Category 2 storm, is moving north just off the U.S. East Coast, bringing high waves, strong winds, and dangerous rip currents.
The storm is unusually large, with tropical-storm-force winds reaching nearly 300 miles from its center. Erin is about 200 miles southeast of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, and is expected to weaken in the coming days before turning into a post-tropical system on Saturday.
Evacuations and Warnings
- North Carolina has declared a state of emergency. Evacuations are underway in parts of the Outer Banks, where storm surge and waves over 20 feet are possible.
- Currituck County ordered people to leave Corolla’s Off-Road Area, a remote stretch of beach.
- Double red flags are posted on many beaches, meaning swimming is banned.
East Coast Impact
Beaches from North Carolina to Massachusetts have closed or restricted swimming because of life-threatening rip currents:
- New York suspended swimming at Long Island and New York City beaches.
- New Jersey and Delaware issued similar restrictions.
- Virginia and Maryland closed beaches on Assateague Island, while Ocean City, MD, banned swimming.
- Massachusetts warned of dangerous surf through Friday.
Dozens of water rescues have already been reported in North Carolina this week. Officials continue to urge people to stay out of the ocean.
Local Effects
- Waves near Duck, NC, grew from 6 feet to nearly 8 feet overnight and could reach 12–18 feet later today.
- In Buxton, NC, high tide pushed seawater under beachfront homes.
- A ferry in Rhode Island was rocked by swells, as travelers rushed to leave Block Island before possible cancellations.
Preparations
Power companies in Virginia and the Carolinas have crews ready to respond to outages, though only a few hundred homes have lost power so far. Virginia Beach cancelled a day of its surf championships, but surfers called Erin’s waves “the best they’ve ever seen.”
What’s Next
Erin may briefly strengthen again before weakening. Meanwhile, the National Hurricane Center is also watching another system behind Erin, which could become the next named storm and may threaten Bermuda.
