Hurricane Erin has triggered a state of emergency in North Carolina, where residents and visitors along the Outer Banks are under evacuation orders.
Hurricane Erin has triggered a state of emergency in North Carolina, where residents and visitors along the Outer Banks are under evacuation orders.
Hurricane Erin is marching north and is set to bring life-threatening rip currents, destructive waves, coastal flooding and possibly beach erosion to much of the East Coast. The conditions will last through Thursday before improving later on Friday and into Saturday.
Erin, now a Category 2 storm, could re-strengthen on Wednesday, potentially becoming a Category 3 hurricane as it tracks between the U.S. East Coast and Bermuda over the next 12-to-24 hours. Then Erin will turn out to sea and race away from the U.S.
Erin is mostly focused on North Carolina’s Outer Banks, where a tropical storm warning is in effect for wind gusts that could top 40 mph. The rough surf and large waves are ramping up along the Carolina coast Wednesday afternoon.
Some of Erin’s outer bands could bring scattered showers and thunderstorms to the Outer Banks, as well. The storm surge in the Outer Banks could reach 2 to 4 feet.
Coastal flood alerts are also in effect along a large swath of the East Coast.
As Erin’s wind field continues to expand, the storm is fueling widespread, destructive surf conditions and dangerous rip currents along the coast from Florida to New York. The risk for the East Coast will last until the end of the week, prompting many beaches to ban swimming.
High surf advisories are also in effect from Florida to Maine. Waves up to 10 to 20 feet are possible along the Outer Banks and waves could reach 15 feet in the Northeast.
-ABC News’ Dan Peck