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Hurricane Erin Strengthens to Category 4, Spurs Mandatory Evacuations on Outer Banks

States of emergency declared in Dare County, Hyde County have prompted staggered evacuations for Hatteras Island, Ocracoke Island as coastal flooding looms, road washouts threaten access.

People fish along the shore in Arecibo, Puerto Rico, as Hurricane Erin brings rains to the island, Sunday, Aug. 17, 2025. (AP Photo/Alejandro Granadillo)
In this NOAA image taken by the GOES satellite, Hurricane Erin crosses the Atlantic Ocean as it moves west on August 15, 2025.
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Overview

  • Erin intensified to a Category 4 hurricane with 130 mph sustained winds on Aug. 18, and forecasters expect further strengthening as the storm turns north between the U.S. East Coast and Bermuda.
  • Swells generated by Erin are forecast to produce life-threatening surf and rip currents along the Bahamas, Bermuda, the U.S. Atlantic coast and Atlantic Canada over the next several days.
  • Dare County officials declared a state of emergency and issued a mandatory evacuation for Hatteras Island, requiring visitors to leave Aug. 18 and residents by the morning of Aug. 19.
  • Hyde County declared an emergency for Ocracoke Island, ordering visitors to evacuate immediately and residents to begin departures at 6 a.m. on Tuesday.
  • Portions of North Carolina Highway 12 on both barrier islands are expected to be impassable from Aug. 19 through Aug. 21 due to coastal flooding and ocean overwash, risking multi-day isolation and limited emergency access.