Strengthened Atlantic hurricane Erin advances to Category 4, detailed tracking information available
Hurricane Erin Continues to Impact the Eastern U.S. Coastline
Hurricane Erin, currently located approximately 130 miles east-northeast of Grand Turk Island, is forecasted to remain offshore, moving northeastward away from the U.S. East Coast without making landfall. However, the hurricane is expected to bring significant coastal impacts.
As of late August 2025, Hurricane Erin has restrengthened to a Category 4 hurricane, with max sustained winds of 130 mph. The Bermuda High and a cold front will cause the hurricane to move north, but it is expected to turn north over the next few days.
In Puerto Rico, between 2 to 4 inches of rain have been reported for the northern sections, and considerable flash flood warnings are ongoing for the U.S. Virgin Islands. In the Bahamas, tropical storm conditions were experienced as the hurricane tracked northward.
Along the Eastern U.S. coastline, dangerous surf and rip currents are anticipated. The growing size of Hurricane Erin will drive these conditions, which are expected to continue for several days, making swimming hazardous. In North Carolina, significant beach erosion is a potential threat due to large waves, with eight- to 12-foot waves possible along the Carolina coastline.
Coastal flooding and significant beach erosion, especially in vulnerable areas such as the Outer Banks, are also expected. N.C. Highway 12 may become intermittently impassable during high tides. Evacuation orders have been issued for parts of the Outer Banks, with visitors beginning evacuation at 10 a.m. on Monday, and for residents at 8 a.m. on Tuesday in Hatteras Island, North Carolina. A mandatory evacuation order has been issued for the same area.
Additional strengthening is possible for Hurricane Erin over the next 12 hours, but it is not forecast to make landfall on the U.S. mainland. Residents on the Outer Banks and other vulnerable coastal zones are urged to remain prepared and heed local emergency instructions.
Key Potential Impacts
- Life-threatening rip currents and large powerful long-period swells along the East Coast beaches
- Coastal flooding and significant beach erosion, especially in vulnerable areas of the Outer Banks
- Tropical storm conditions such as heavy rain (1–4 inches locally) and gusty winds affecting coastal areas, including North Carolina and previously Puerto Rico and the Bahamas, as Erin tracked northward.
- Despite Hurricane Erin being forecasted to remain offshore, the coastal regions of the Eastern U.S., particularly the Outer Banks, may face life-threatening rip currents and significant beach erosion due to the hurricane's large waves and high tides.
- As Hurricane Erin's impacts extend beyond coastal flooding and beach erosion, there is a potential for adverse weather conditions to affect health, with residents advised to pay attention to warnings about heavy rain and the potential for flooding in coastal areas.
