East Coast of the United States braces for Hurricane Erin, anticipating a significant storm surge threat.
Hurricane Erin Brings Dangerous Conditions to East Coast
Hurricane Erin, now a Category 2 storm with maximum sustained winds of 105 mph (170 kph), is moving towards the eastern US coast, threatening several regions with life-threatening surf, rip currents, and coastal flooding.
Impacts on the Outer Banks and Mid-Atlantic Coast
North Carolina's Outer Banks have experienced tropical storm conditions and were placed under evacuation orders. The state declared a state of emergency due to the threat. Although Erin did not make landfall, it produced very strong winds, significant surf, and rip currents that posed dangers to life and property. Beachgoers were strongly cautioned against swimming due to "life-threatening surf and rip currents."
New England coast and surrounding areas saw sustained winds of 25-30 knots with gusts of 30-40 knots over water and near the coast. This led to tremendous swells of 12-18 feet, causing beach and dune erosion along with elevated water levels approximately 2.5 feet above normal tides in bays and oceans from Virginia through Maryland and North Carolina. Some locations experienced major tidal flooding, while others saw moderate tidal flooding.
Impacts on New England
Nantucket Island off the coast of Massachusetts could see waves of more than 10 feet (3 meters) later this week. Beach access points farther south have been closed due to forecasts calling for water levels up to 3 feet (1 meter) over normal high tides for several days.
Preparations and Evacuations
More than 1,800 people have left Ocracoke Island by ferry since Monday. Mandatory evacuations have been ordered on Hatteras and Ocracoke Islands in North Carolina. Bulldozers are shoring up dunes on the Outer Banks, and residents and business owners are taking precautions to secure their properties.
Wider Impacts
Warnings about rip currents have been posted from Florida to the New England coast, including New York City and several Long Island and New Jersey beaches. The biggest threat is along the barrier islands of North Carolina's Outer Banks where evacuations have been ordered. The Outer Banks' main highway could be washed out, leaving some routes impassable for days.
Hurricane Erin has tropical storm winds stretching 200 miles (320 kilometers) from its core. New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy has advised people to stay out of the water. At least one town in North Carolina's Outer Banks has asked residents to secure their trash cans. Treacherous waves have already caused dozens of beach rescues.
The storm's remnants are also influencing weather far beyond the U.S., pushing warm tropical air into Western Europe and causing unsettled, windy weather with heavy showers in Ireland and the UK later in the week. Bermuda remains under tropical storm warnings as the storm passes by.
[1] National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration [2] BBC News [3] The Weather Channel
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