Hurricane Erin’s arrival is being felt all along the east coast, where higher tides and powerful surf have triggered expanded warnings for flooding and tropical storm conditions.
Coastal residents are bracing for the possibility of a dangerous storm surge reaching up to 4ft (1.2 metres), along with severe beach erosion. The hurricane is expected to generate “life-threatening” waves ranging from 15 to 20ft, with North Carolina beaches anticipating the most brutal waves.
The pounding of shorelines will last for two days or longer as Erin slowly moves north offshore through at least Thursday. Authorities have urged people to stay out of the ocean throughout the east coast.
On Tuesday, the storm system’s strength dipped to about 100mph (160km/h) as winds cut across its north side. But the National Hurricane Center reported early on Wednesday that the storm rebuilt an inner eye wall.
“Swells generated by Erin will affect the Bahamas, Bermuda, the east coast of the United States, and Atlantic Canada during the next several days,” said the National Hurricane Center. “These rough ocean conditions are expected to cause life-threatening surf and rip currents.”
Officials in New York City said swimming would be prohibited at city beaches on Wednesday and Thursday because of the treacherous currents from Erin. The National Weather Service put Suffolk and Nassau county beaches on a coastal flood watch. In New Jersey and Delaware, beach closures began on Tuesday and are expected to extend until Friday or later in the week.
While forecasts show the hurricane eventually steering away from land, the National Weather Service cautioned that beaches from Florida to New York face a high risk of rip currents through Wednesday evening.
Along the Outer Banks, conditions began to deteriorate on Tuesday despite Erin still being more than 500 miles (805km) offshore. Parts were under mandatory evacuation orders and a declared state of emergency. In Buxton, incoming afternoon tides pushed waves under beachfront homes on stilts and swept water across sections of Highway 12, the islands’ main roadway.
The northern areas around Nags Head and Kill Devil Hills, home to the region’s densest development, are outside the evacuation zone. But to the south, across Oregon Inlet, lies Hatteras Island, which relies solely on Highway 12 for access. Beyond that is Ocracoke Island, which can only be reached by plane or ferry.
Hurricane Erin’s rapid growth ranks it among the fastest-intensifying hurricanes ever observed in the Atlantic, highlighting scientists’ warnings that the climate crisis, driven by greenhouse gas emissions caused by humans, is fueling more rapid storm strengthening.
