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21h ago

Hurricane Erin Stays Offshore but Triggers Evacuations, Closures Up and Down the East Coast

Forecasters warn of days of dangerous surf, rip currents, coastal flooding, beach erosion as the storm's broad wind field spreads north.

As waves from Hurricane Erin crash and “No Swimming” flags flap in the breeze, people walk on the beach in Nags Head, N.C., on Tuesday, Aug. 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Allen G. Breed)
Red flags, indicating swimming is prohibited, are raised at the beach in Duck, N.C., Tuesday, Aug. 19, 2025, as precautions are taken ahead of Hurricane Erin. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)
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People walk along the beach as waves as red flags, indicating swimming is prohibited, are raised at the beach in Duck, N.C., Tuesday, Aug. 19, 2025, as precautions are taken ahead of Hurricane Erin. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)

Overview

  • Erin is a Category 2 hurricane with sustained winds near 100–105 mph, sitting well offshore and exhibiting an unusually large circulation with tropical-storm-force winds extending roughly 230 miles.
  • North Carolina issued storm surge and tropical storm warnings for the Outer Banks, ordered mandatory evacuations for Hatteras and Ocracoke, and declared a state of emergency as forecasters flagged possible overwash and waves near 15 feet.
  • The National Hurricane Center projects the center will pass between the East Coast and Bermuda midweek, keeping the core at sea but pushing hazardous swells onto beaches for several days.
  • New York City closed beaches to swimming for Wednesday and Thursday, New York State restricted three Long Island state beaches, and several New Jersey and Delaware beaches curtailed ocean access because of dangerous rip currents.
  • Nantucket shut south-facing beaches to swimming, and high surf advisories for parts of southern New England warn of 10–13 foot waves, strong rip currents and localized erosion.