Severe Atlantic hurricane Erin to spark dangerous coastal waves and treacherous undercurrents across the U.S. East Coast and Bermuda, posing a potential risk to life.
Hurricane Erin Makes Its Mark on the Eastern US Coastline and Caribbean
Hurricane Erin, the first hurricane of the 2025 Atlantic season, rapidly intensified to a Category 4 storm before weakening and moving northward. Although it did not make landfall, Erin left its mark on the eastern US coastline, Bermuda, and nearby regions.
Impacts on the Eastern US Coastline
Despite remaining offshore, Hurricane Erin delivered tropical storm conditions such as strong winds and heavy rain to parts of the U.S. Atlantic coast. A storm surge warning was issued for parts of the Outer Banks in North Carolina, indicating a risk of life-threatening coastal flooding. The hurricane's large size spread hurricane-force winds up to 105 miles from the center and tropical storm-force winds up to 320 miles outward. Coastal areas experienced hazardous conditions as the storm was steered away by a high-pressure system and a cold front.
Bermuda's Encounter with Erin
Erin tracked between the US East Coast and Bermuda while weakening from a Category 2 hurricane toward a post-tropical system. The storm passed through this area early on Friday, August 23, capable of sustaining strong winds and heavy seas given its size. However, specific damage reports for Bermuda are not outlined in the search results.
Caribbean Impacts
Puerto Rico, the Turks and Caicos Islands, and the Bahamas experienced heavy rain and strong winds when Erin was more intense earlier in its path near the Caribbean. The storm rapidly intensified over warm ocean waters with favorable environmental conditions, briefly reaching sustained winds of 160 mph when northeast of Puerto Rico.
Additional Impacts and Forecast
The storm has started impacting the southeast Bahamas and the Turks and Caicos Islands, with additional rainfall of up to 6 inches forecast over these regions through Tuesday. Tropical storm warnings are in effect in the Turks and Caicos Islands and southeast Bahamas. A flood watch remains in effect for Puerto Rico through Monday evening. The storm's wind field is sending large swells outward for hundreds of miles, bringing dangerous rip currents to US shores.
As Hurricane Erin weakened and moved north, it became post-tropical by Saturday, August 23. Despite Erin churning up cooler waters beneath the surface, there's still plenty of warm water for storms to tap into as sea surface temperatures remain well above average. The hurricane center has already identified a tropical wave behind Erin that has a medium chance of developing into a tropical depression or tropical storm within the next seven days.
[1] National Hurricane Center: Hurricane Erin Advisory 25 [2] National Hurricane Center: Hurricane Erin Advisory 24 [3] National Hurricane Center: Hurricane Erin Advisory 23
- The hurricane's large size spread hurricane-force winds up to 105 miles from the center and tropical storm-force winds up to 320 miles outward, resulting in tropical storm conditions such as strong winds and heavy rain along the U.S. Atlantic coast, as the storm was steered away by a high-pressure system and a cold front.
- In the Caribbean, Puerto Rico, the Turks and Caicos Islands, and the Bahamas experienced heavy rain and strong winds when Erin was more intense earlier in its path, as the storm rapidly intensified over warm ocean waters with favorable environmental conditions, briefly reaching sustained winds of 160 mph when northeast of Puerto Rico.
