Additional Coverage:
Hurricane Erin Threatens North Carolina’s Outer Banks; Coastal Impacts Expected Up and Down East Coast
Hurricane Erin, now a Category 2 storm, is churning towards North Carolina’s Outer Banks, prompting evacuations and a tropical storm warning for the region. Conditions are expected to worsen throughout Wednesday as the storm brings heavy rain and strong winds.
Outer Banks Impacts Intensifying
As of 8:16 PM on August 20th, Erin’s outer bands are impacting the Outer Banks. While some coastal flooding is expected to recede slightly around midnight with low tide, dangerous waves will persist.
The next high tide, expected between 5:45 AM and 6:45 AM on Thursday morning, is likely to bring increased coastal impacts. A portion of NC Highway 12 has already been closed from Oregon Inlet to Hatteras Village due to dangerous conditions brought on by Erin’s storm surge.
East Coast Braces for Erin’s Impact
Even without making landfall, Hurricane Erin poses a significant threat to the East Coast. Dangerous rip currents, large waves, and coastal flooding are anticipated from Florida to New York throughout the week.
Many beaches have preemptively banned swimming due to the hazardous conditions. Experts warn that higher sea levels due to climate change could exacerbate coastal erosion.
Evacuations and Warnings Issued
Over 2,000 people have been evacuated from Ocracoke Island, part of the Outer Banks, with ferry services continuing as long as weather permits. Hatteras Island is also bracing for impact, with the worst conditions expected Wednesday evening during high tide.
North Carolina Governor Josh Stein has declared a state of emergency and warned residents to avoid floodwaters and stay out of the ocean. Swimming bans are also in effect for New York City beaches and New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy has strongly advised against entering the ocean this week.
Erin’s Forecast
Hurricane Erin is expected to potentially strengthen to a Category 3 hurricane before turning out to sea and away from the U.S. coastline. The storm is forecast to bring wind gusts exceeding 40 mph to the Outer Banks, along with a storm surge of 2 to 4 feet.
Wave heights could reach 10 to 20 feet along the Outer Banks and up to 15 feet in the Northeast. Coastal flood alerts are in effect along much of the East Coast.