UPDATE: Hurricane Erin has rapidly intensified into a Category 4 storm, threatening to unleash life-threatening surf and rip currents along the U.S. East Coast and Bermuda. As of now, Erin is maintaining a substantial offshore presence, but its expansive wind field is already generating dangerous conditions along the shores, with large swells expected to begin impacting coastal areas starting Tuesday, August 19, 2025.
The storm’s enormous size is alarming, with officials warning of severe rip currents and towering waves. The National Weather Service has issued a beach hazards statement emphasizing the immediate dangers to beachgoers. “Even though Erin is expected to remain far offshore, the threat to life from rip currents and high surf along our beaches is very real,” they stated.
Erin is forecast to curve north-northeast while remaining offshore, but its influence will be felt through hazardous surf and potential coastal flooding during high tides. The storm has already caused significant disruptions, including flash flooding and power outages in Puerto Rico, where over 100,000 residents are currently without power, according to Governor Jennifer González-Colón. Heavy rainfall is expected to continue across the island with additional rainfall of up to 2 inches through Monday night.
In Dare County, North Carolina, a local state of emergency has been declared, including a mandatory evacuation order for Hatteras Island. Coastal flooding and ocean overwash are anticipated to begin as early as Tuesday, August 21, 2025, with officials warning that portions of N.C. Highway 12 may become impassable for several days.
Bermuda is also on alert, with forecasts predicting rough seas and possible tropical storm-force winds as Erin approaches later this week. From South Carolina up to the Delmarva Peninsula and the New Jersey shore, rip current risks are set to rise sharply from Tuesday through Thursday, even under clear skies. So far this year, at least 44 people have lost their lives due to rip currents and surf-zone hazards in the U.S., making it one of the top weather-related killers.
Officials are urging beachgoers to stay out of the water. “This is not the week to swim in the ocean,” Dare County Emergency Management warned in their evacuation order. “The risk from surf and flooding will be life-threatening.”
Erin’s rapid intensification has been remarkable, as the storm recorded one of the fastest strengthening bursts on record, jumping from tropical-storm strength to Category 5 with peak winds of 165 mph over the weekend. Although it has since weakened slightly, it has re-intensified to Category 4 after undergoing an eyewall replacement cycle.
The impact of Erin serves as a stark reminder of the changing climate, with storms becoming increasingly intense. As the first hurricane of the Atlantic season, Erin’s swift development underscores the potential for more storms in the coming weeks, especially as forecasts indicate above-average tropical activity will persist.
As authorities continue to monitor Erin’s path, a tropical wave trailing the hurricane is being watched closely, with a medium chance of developing into another storm within the next week. The Atlantic hurricane season typically ramps up in August, heightening concerns for coastal communities.
Stay tuned for more updates as this story develops.