East Coast of the United States braces for dangerous surf from Hurricane Erin, posing a potential risk to life
Hurricane Erin Breaks Atlantic Record for Rapid Intensification
Hurricane Erin, the first named storm of the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season, has made history as one of the fastest-strengthening Atlantic hurricanes on record. In just 27 hours, Erin intensified from a tropical storm to a Category 5 hurricane, surpassing many previous records for rapid intensification.
As of 1am Irish time, Hurricane Erin was packing maximum sustained winds of 210km/h. By August 16, 2025, Erin had rapidly escalated to a Category 4 with sustained winds of 145 mph, and shortly after became a Category 5 hurricane. This 25-hour jump from Category 1 to Category 5 ranks among the fastest strengthening rates in the Atlantic basin.
Alex Sosnowski, a senior meteorologist at AccuWeather, stated that Erin's size and intensity are acting like a giant plunger on the sea surface. The US National Hurricane Center predicts Erin to maintain its force as a dangerous major hurricane through the middle of the week.
A storm surge watch is in effect for Cape Lookout to Duck, North Carolina, and tropical storm conditions and coastal flooding are possible in North Carolina's Outer Banks, beginning tomorrow. Some evacuation orders have been issued in parts of North Carolina, including for parts of two coastal counties, Dare and Hyde, for flood-prone barrier islands of Hatteras and Ocracoke.
County officials have warned that inaccessible roads might prevent help from authorities during the storm. The seas could become extremely rough and dangerous during the swells, with waves up to 6.1m and dangerous rip currents predicted for tomorrow and Thursday in these areas.
Tourists flock to the Outer Banks each year, with about 2.7 million visiting annually, mostly during the summer, according to the US National Park Service. Some guests are rescheduling their stays at the Roanoke Inn on Roanoke Island due to the potential storm.
The Air Force Reserve and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration hurricane hunters are currently investigating Hurricane Erin. In other parts of the world, such as the Bahamian island of Long Cay, residents have been advised to evacuate to the mainland by Kate Williamson, a Bahamian southeastern district administrator.
This rapid intensification of Hurricane Erin follows the trend of increasingly intense hurricanes in the Atlantic basin. It makes 2025 the fourth straight Atlantic season with at least one Category 5 storm. Historical examples of fast intensification include hurricanes like Wilma (2005), which intensified around 80 mph in 24 hours, and Allen (1980), which also saw major wind increases rapidly. Erin’s intensification rate of 85 mph in a day exceeds many of these previous records, marking it as a new benchmark for speed of strengthening.
Stay tuned for further updates on Hurricane Erin and its potential impact on the North Carolina coast.
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