UPDATE: Hurricane Erin has rapidly intensified to a Category 4 storm, posing serious threats of life-threatening surf and rip currents along the US East Coast and Bermuda. The storm, which has expanded significantly, is expected to generate hazardous conditions starting Tuesday, August 19, 2025, with worsening surf and increased risks through midweek.
Erin’s vast wind field is sending dangerous swells hundreds of miles from its center, already impacting coastal areas. The National Hurricane Center reports that Erin’s outer bands have caused flash flooding and widespread power outages in Puerto Rico, affecting over 100,000 residents. With additional rainfall of up to 2 inches expected, authorities have issued flood watches as the storm’s impact spreads to the southeast Bahamas and Turks and Caicos Islands.
Officials warn that although Erin is forecast to remain offshore, the dangers from rip currents and high surf are imminent. “Even as Erin stays well offshore, the threat to life from rip currents and high surf along our beaches is very real,” cautioned the National Weather Service in Morehead City, North Carolina, in a recent statement.
Coastal flooding and ocean overwash are anticipated to begin on Tuesday, particularly in Dare County, North Carolina, where a state of emergency has been declared. Mandatory evacuation orders have been issued for Hatteras Island, as portions of N.C. Highway 12 may become impassable for days. With peak summer crowds at the beach, officials urge beachgoers to avoid swimming. “This is not the week to swim in the ocean,” said Dare County Emergency Management. “The risk from surf and flooding will be life-threatening.”
As Erin continues its path, the storm is expected to curve north-northeast, bringing rough seas and possibly tropical storm–force winds to Bermuda later this week. The rip current risk will rise sharply from South Carolina to the Delmarva Peninsula and New Jersey shore, even in clear weather.
The toll of rip currents is severe; thus far in 2023, 44 people have lost their lives due to rip currents and surf-zone hazards in the US. The National Weather Service emphasizes that rip currents usually take more lives annually than lightning, hurricanes, and tornadoes combined.
This weekend, Erin demonstrated extreme rapid intensification, becoming one of the fastest storms to escalate in the Atlantic. Within just over a day, it surged from tropical-storm strength to a peak of 165 mph as a Category 5. After a brief dip to Category 3 during an eyewall replacement cycle, Erin has regained strength as a broad Category 4 storm, broadening the risk of dangerous surf.
Erin is the first hurricane of the Atlantic season, following four previous systems that did not exceed tropical storm strength. Experts are closely monitoring a tropical wave behind Erin that has a medium chance of developing into another storm in the coming week.
As the Atlantic hurricane season intensifies, forecasters predict above-average storm activity, particularly between mid-August and mid-October. Sea surface temperatures remain significantly above average, continuing to fuel potential storm development.
Residents and travelers along the coast should stay vigilant and heed warnings from local authorities as Hurricane Erin approaches. Stay tuned for further updates as conditions evolve.
