URGENT UPDATE: Hurricane Erin has rapidly intensified to a Category 4 storm, threatening life-threatening surf and rip currents along the US East Coast and Bermuda. This powerful storm is currently churning in the Atlantic, and its expansive wind field is already sending dangerous swells toward coastal areas.
The National Hurricane Center reports that Erin is expected to remain offshore but will intensify further, impacting beaches with large, pounding surf and hazardous currents. Starting Tuesday, August 19, 2025, conditions are predicted to worsen through midweek, prompting urgent warnings from officials.
“Even though Erin is expected to remain far offshore, the threat to life from rip currents and high surf along our beaches is very real,” cautioned the National Weather Service office in Morehead City, North Carolina.
Erin’s outer rain bands have already lashed Puerto Rico, causing flash flooding and leaving 100,000 people without power. Heavy rainfall is expected to continue, with up to 2 inches more forecasted through Monday night. Flash flooding, landslides, and mudslides are possible in the southeastern Bahamas and Turks and Caicos Islands, where tropical storm warnings are now in effect.
Dare County, North Carolina, has declared a local state of emergency, issuing a mandatory evacuation order for Hatteras Island. “Coastal flooding and ocean overwash are expected to begin as early as Tuesday and continue through Thursday,” officials warned, noting that parts of N.C. Highway 12 may be impassable for several days.
As Erin curves north-northeast, its influence will extend from South Carolina to New Jersey, significantly increasing rip current risks. The National Weather Service reports that 44 people have died from rip currents and surf-zone hazards in the US this year, emphasizing the urgency of beach safety. “This is not the week to swim in the ocean,” Dare County Emergency Management stated in its evacuation order.
Erin’s rapid intensification over the weekend was remarkable, with the storm escalating from tropical-storm strength to Category 5 in just over a day, peaking with winds near 165 mph. While it now stands as a Category 4 storm, its broader wind field raises concerns for hazardous surf conditions.
The Atlantic hurricane season is just getting underway, and Erin is the first hurricane of the season. Forecasters are closely monitoring another tropical wave behind Erin, which has a medium chance of developing into a new storm over the next week.
As the storm continues to develop, officials urge everyone to stay vigilant as the situation evolves. The threat posed by Hurricane Erin underscores the growing intensity of storms in a warming climate, making safety a top priority for coastal residents and visitors alike.
Stay tuned for updates as we continue to monitor Hurricane Erin’s trajectory and impact.
