Hurricane Erin is surging toward the U.S. East Coast, forcing mandatory evacuations and raising fears of life-threatening flooding and rip currents. The powerful storm, once a catastrophic Category 5, remains a major threat despite losing some intensity.
Evacuations and Emergency Orders
As of Tuesday, all residents and visitors on Hatteras and Ocracoke Islands in North Carolina’s Outer Banks were under mandatory evacuation. Officials warned that Highway 12, the only road connecting the islands, could soon be overtaken by seawater.
“I encourage all residents and visitors to heed the evacuation order and take action to protect themselves, to protect their property, and to get up and leave — now,” Dare County Emergency Management Director Drew Pearson said in a statement.
Current Track and Intensity
At 2 p.m. ET Tuesday, Hurricane Erin was 655 miles south-southeast of Cape Hatteras, moving north-northwest at 10 mph, according to the National Hurricane Center. Winds were recorded at 105 mph, down from Monday’s 140 mph peak. Forecasters expect the storm to regain strength and grow in size as it continues its northward track.
Authorities issued both a tropical storm warning and a storm surge warning for the Outer Banks. National Hurricane Center Director Michael Brennan cautioned that coastal areas face “life-threatening inundation of 2 to 4 feet above ground level.”
Wider Threat Along the East Coast
From Florida to Long Island, New York, millions of Americans are at risk of dangerous surf and rip currents. Swells could reach 15 to 20 feet or higher, creating perilous conditions for beachgoers. The National Weather Service warned that low-lying roads and cars may be submerged for days once flooding begins.
“Some are asking, ‘How come we’re being impacted at the coast if the storm is well out to sea?’” meteorologist Erik Heden explained. “That’s correct with the center of the storm. But keep in mind, it’s hundreds of miles across.”
A Season of Powerful Storms
Erin is the first hurricane of what experts warn will be an unusually active Atlantic hurricane season. It briefly strengthened into a Category 5 monster over the weekend, producing winds near 160 mph before dropping back down. Despite this decrease in wind speed, experts stress that its massive size makes it even more dangerous for coastal communities.
Forecasters project Erin will move between Bermuda and the Eastern U.S. later this week, with the possibility of tropical-storm-force winds extending up to 230 miles from its center. Hurricane-force winds currently reach 80 miles out, and the storm’s size continues to expand.
Authorities are urging residents up and down the East Coast to monitor updates closely, prepare for power outages, and stay out of the water as the storm nears.