Hurricane Erin's life-threatening impacts prompt North Carolina evacuations, states of emergency
Hurricane Erin, which became the first major hurricane of the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season, is no doubt going to be a storm for the history books. The powerful storm rapidly intensified over the weekend, going from a Category 1 hurricane to a catastrophic Category 5 hurricane with winds of 160 mph in a matter of hours.
Bryan Norcross: Hurricane Erin strengthening with impacts to be felt along US East Coast
Powerful Hurricane Erin is gaining strength after slamming parts of the Caribbean with strong winds and flooding rain, and impacts from the monster storm will be felt along the U.S. East Coast. FOX Weather Hurricane Specialist Bryan Norcross has expert analysis on the latest forecast and when impacts will be felt here.
HATTERAS, N.C. – Powerful Hurricane Erin restrengthened and became an extremely dangerous Category 4 hurricane as it continued its journey across the Atlantic, prompting officials in North Carolina to issue local states of emergency and forcing residents and visitors to evacuate some areas.
Hurricane Erin, which became the first major hurricane of the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season, is no doubt going to be a storm for the history books. The powerful storm rapidly intensified over the weekend, going from a Category 1 hurricane to a catastrophic Category 5 hurricane with winds of 160 mph in a matter of hours.
![This image shared by FOX Weather Storm Specialist Mike Seidel shows Buxton, North Carolina, from the air.]()
Image 1 of 12This image shared by FOX Weather Storm Specialist Mike Seidel shows Buxton, North Carolina, from the air. (Mike Seidel)
![A surfer rides a wave at La Pared beach as Category 5 Hurricane Erin approaches in Luquillo, Puerto Rico on August 16, 2025. Hurricane Erin rapidly strengthened offshore to a "catastrophic" Category 5 storm on August 16, as rain lashed Caribbean islands and weather officials warned of possible flash floods and landslides. The first hurricane of what is expected to be a particularly intense Atlantic season, Erin is expected to drench Caribbean islands with rain and strong winds but not make landfall.]()
Image 2 of 12A surfer rides a wave at La Pared beach as Category 5 Hurricane Erin approaches in Luquillo, Puerto Rico on August 16, 2025. Hurricane Erin rapidly strengthened offshore to a "catastrophic" Category 5 storm on August 16, as rain lashed Caribbean islands and weather officials warned of possible flash floods and landslides. The first hurricane of what is expected to be a particularly intense Atlantic season, Erin is expected to drench Caribbean islands with rain and strong winds but not make landfall. (RICARDO ARDUENGO/AFP)
![A surfer rides a wave at La Pared beach as Category 5 Hurricane Erin approaches in Luquillo, Puerto Rico on August 16, 2025. Hurricane Erin rapidly strengthened offshore to a "catastrophic" Category 5 storm on August 16, as rain lashed Caribbean islands and weather officials warned of possible flash floods and landslides.]()
Image 3 of 12A surfer rides a wave at La Pared beach as Category 5 Hurricane Erin approaches in Luquillo, Puerto Rico on August 16, 2025. Hurricane Erin rapidly strengthened offshore to a "catastrophic" Category 5 storm on August 16, as rain lashed Caribbean islands and weather officials warned of possible flash floods and landslides. (RICARDO ARDUENGO/AFP)
![This photo shows power lines that were brought down as a result of Hurricane Erin's winds in Puerto Rico on Aug. 17, 2025.]()
Image 4 of 12This photo shows power lines that were brought down as a result of Hurricane Erin's winds in Puerto Rico on Aug. 17, 2025. (@lumaenergypr/X)
![This image shows trees that were brought down as a result of Hurricane Erin's winds in Puerto Rico on Aug. 17, 2025.]()
Image 5 of 12This image shows trees that were brought down as a result of Hurricane Erin's winds in Puerto Rico on Aug. 17, 2025. (@lumaenergypr/X)
![Heavy waves are seen at La Pared beach as Category 5 Hurricane Erin approaches in Luquillo, Puerto Rico on August 16, 2025. Hurricane Erin rapidly strengthened offshore to a "catastrophic" Category 5 storm on August 16, as rain lashed Caribbean islands and weather officials warned of possible flash floods and landslides. The first hurricane of what is expected to be a particularly intense Atlantic season, Erin is expected to drench Caribbean islands with rain and strong winds but not make landfall. (Photo by Ricardo ARDUENGO / AFP) (Photo by RICARDO ARDUENGO/AFP via Getty Images)]()
Image 6 of 12Heavy waves are seen at La Pared beach as Category 5 Hurricane Erin approaches in Luquillo, Puerto Rico on August 16, 2025. Hurricane Erin rapidly strengthened offshore to a "catastrophic" Category 5 storm on August 16, as rain lashed Caribbean islands and weather officials warned of possible flash floods and landslides. The first hurricane of what is expected to be a particularly intense Atlantic season, Erin is expected to drench Caribbean islands with rain and strong winds but not make landfall. (Photo by Ricardo ARDUENGO / AFP) (Photo by RICARDO ARDUENGO/AFP via Getty Images) ( )
![Waves hit a structure as Category 5 Hurricane Erin approaches in San Juan, Puerto Rico, on August 16, 2025. Hurricane Erin on Saturday strengthened to a "catastrophic" Category 5 storm as it barrelled towards the Caribbean, with weather officials warning of possible flash floods and landslides. (Photo by Ricardo ARDUENGO / AFP) (Photo by RICARDO ARDUENGO/AFP via Getty Images)]()
Image 7 of 12Waves hit a structure as Category 5 Hurricane Erin approaches in San Juan, Puerto Rico, on August 16, 2025. Hurricane Erin on Saturday strengthened to a "catastrophic" Category 5 storm as it barrelled towards the Caribbean, with weather officials warning of possible flash floods and landslides. (Photo by Ricardo ARDUENGO / AFP) (Photo by RICARDO ARDUENGO/AFP via Getty Images) ( )
![A ripped red flag warning of rip current waves as Category 5 Hurricane Erin approaches in San Juan, Puerto Rico, on August 16, 2025. Hurricane Erin on Saturday strengthened to a "catastrophic" Category 5 storm as it barrelled towards the Caribbean, with weather officials warning of possible flash floods and landslides. (Photo by Ricardo ARDUENGO / AFP) (Photo by RICARDO ARDUENGO/AFP via Getty Images)]()
Image 8 of 12A ripped red flag warning of rip current waves as Category 5 Hurricane Erin approaches in San Juan, Puerto Rico, on August 16, 2025. Hurricane Erin on Saturday strengthened to a "catastrophic" Category 5 storm as it barrelled towards the Caribbean, with weather officials warning of possible flash floods and landslides. (Photo by Ricardo ARDUENGO / AFP) (Photo by RICARDO ARDUENGO/AFP via Getty Images) ( )
![Rain lashes St. Thomas as Hurricane Erin moves north of the U.S. Virgin Islands on Saturday.]()
Image 9 of 12Rain lashes St. Thomas as Hurricane Erin moves north of the U.S. Virgin Islands on Saturday. (Robert Ray)
![Rain lashes St. Thomas as Hurricane Erin moves north of the U.S. Virgin Islands on Saturday.]()
Image 10 of 12Rain lashes St. Thomas as Hurricane Erin moves north of the U.S. Virgin Islands on Saturday. (Robert Ray)
![Rain lashes St. Thomas as Hurricane Erin moves north of the U.S. Virgin Islands on Saturday.]()
Image 11 of 12Rain lashes St. Thomas as Hurricane Erin moves north of the U.S. Virgin Islands on Saturday. (Robert Ray)
![Rain lashes St. Thomas as Hurricane Erin moves north of the U.S. Virgin Islands on Saturday.]()
Image 12 of 12Rain lashes St. Thomas as Hurricane Erin moves north of the U.S. Virgin Islands on Saturday. (Robert Ray)
Hurricane Erin’s outer rainbands have now started to impact the southeastern Bahamas and the Turks and Caicos Islands, where Tropical Storm Warnings remain in effect. A Tropical Storm Watch was issued for the central Bahamas on Monday morning.
And while the monster storm will likely stay to the east of the U.S., officials are warning of life-threatening surf and rip currents at beaches up and down the East Coast from Florida in the Southeast through the mid-Atlantic, Northeast and New England this week.
(FOX Weather)
On Sunday, officials in Dare County, North Carolina, declared a state of emergency and issued a mandatory evacuation for Hatteras Island, including unincorporated villages of Rodanthe, Waves, Salvo, Avon, Buxton, Frisco and Hatteras.
"Now is the time to secure property, finalize plans and evacuate with belongings," officials said in a Facebook post. "Please follow instructions from officials and property managers."
Watch: Views above Hatteras Island ahead of Hurricane Erin’s impacts in North Carolina
A video shared by FOX Weather Storm Specialist Mike Seidel shows Hatteras Island, North Carolina, from the air on Sunday, Aug. 18, ahead of impacts from Hurricane Erin later this week.
A similar situation unfolded in nearby Hyde County, where the Board of Commissioners enacted a state of emergency for Ocracoke Island due to anticipated flooding impacts from Hurricane Erin.
In addition, a mandatory evacuation order was issued for visitors that started at 8 p.m. Sunday, and for residents starting at 6 a.m. Tuesday.
"While Hurricane Erin is expected to stay well off our coast, the system will continue to increase in size and is forecast to bring life-threatening impacts to the Ocracoke coastline and render Highway 12 impassable," officials said in a statement.
Watch: Beachgoers in North Carolina enjoy sun, sand ahead of Hurricane Erin’s impacts
A video shared by FOX Weather Storm Specialist Mike Seidel shows beachgoers enjoying the surf, sand and sunshine in Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, ahead of impacts from Hurricane Erin.
The National Weather Service office in Newport/Morehead City issued a High Surf Advisory and Coastal Flood Watch in advance of Hurricane Erin’s impacts.
The NWS said large breaking waves of 7-12 feet are expected in the surf zone, and "significant oceanside inundation" above ground level is likely in the low-lying areas near the shore and in tidal waterways.
(FOX Weather)
As of the latest advisory from the National Hurricane Center (NHC), Hurricane Erin has maximum sustained winds of 130 mph, making it a Category 4 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale.
The NHC said that some additional strengthening is expected on Monday.
Watch: Palm trees sway, thunder claps on St. Thomas as Hurricane Erin passes to the north
A video shared by FOX Weather Correspondent Robert Ray shared this video showing heavy rain and strong winds on St. Thomas as Hurricane Erin moved to the north. In the video you can see palm trees swaying in the wind and you can head a loud clap of thunder as heavy rain falls.
"Even though some weakening is forecast beginning (Monday night), Erin will remain a large and dangerous major hurricane through the middle of the week," the NHC wrote.
Hurricane Erin is a massive system.
The NHC said that hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 80 miles, while tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 230 miles.
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(FOX Weather)
Hurricane Erin is currently located less than 900 miles south-southeast of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, and was moving off to the northwest at 13 mph.
The NHC said that Hurricane Erin should make a gradual turn toward the north later Monday and into Tuesday.
On that track, the NHC said the center of Hurricane Erin is expected to pass to the east of the southeastern Bahamas on Monday and move between the U.S. East Coast and Bermuda by the middle of the week.
Watch: Heavy rain, strong winds lash St. Thomas as Hurricane Erin moves north of US Virgin Islands
FOX Weather Correspondent Robert Ray shared this video of strong winds and heavy rain on St. Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands as Hurricane Erin passed to the north on Saturday, Aug. 17, 2025.
The outer bands from Hurricane Erin will produce locally heavy rain across portions of Hispaniola through Monday, and through Tuesday for the Turks and Caicos Islands and portions of the southeastern Bahamas.
Additional rainfall amounts of 2-4 inches are possible, with locally higher amounts of up to 6 inches not out of the question.
(FOX Weather)
Swells generated by Hurricane Erin will impact the Bahamas, Bermuda, the East Coast of the U.S. and Atlantic Canada over the next several days.
Those dangerous conditions will likely cause life-threatening surf and rip currents.
A storm surge could also cause minor coastal flooding in areas of onshore winds in the Turks and Caicos Islands and in the southeastern Bahamas.
Hurricane Erin slams Caribbean with high winds, flooding rain
Watch: Hurricane Hunters fly into Hurricane Erin's eye
Check out this incredible video shared by the 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron showing the crew flying into the eye of Hurricane Erin as the storm spun across the Atlantic Ocean. These dangerous missions help to provide critical information to the National Hurricane Center to help improve forecasts.
It was a tense weekend for residents in the Caribbean, including Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, as Hurricane Erin scooted by to the north.
The hurricane didn’t make landfall and stayed well north of the islands, but impacts were widely felt across the region.
Watch: San Juan feels effects of Hurricane Erin
A video shared from San Juan, Puerto Rico, shows the city starting to feel the effects of Hurricane Erin on Saturday, Aug. 16.
FOX Weather Correspondent Robert Ray spent the weekend in St. Thomas, which was hammered by gusty winds and heavy rain that led to power outages and flooding.
More than 10 inches of rain fell across Tortola in the British Virgin Islands, while several areas of Puerto Rico picked up more than 4 inches of rain. Thousands of power outages were also reported in Puerto Rico.
Tropical-storm-force wind gusts were also reported across the region, with Tortola seeing a wind gust of 65 mph.
Watch: Wild winds whip across Puerto Rico as Hurricane Erin spins north of the island
A video shared from Puerto Rico shows foggy conditions as heavy rain fell and winds whipped across the island as Hurricane Erin spun off to the north.
Charlotte Amalie on St. Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands reported a 51-mph wind gust.
Ports had been closed and flights were canceled and delayed ahead of the arrival of impacts from Hurricane Erin over the weekend.