Hurricane Erin moves closer to US prompting Tropical Storm, Storm Surge Watches in North Carolina
Hurricane Erin rapidly intensified last week, going from a Category 1 hurricane to a Category 5 hurricane with winds of 160 mph in a matter of hours.
Bryan Norcross: Hurricane Erin weakens, but danger remains along East Coast
Hurricane Erin has weakened to a Category 2 hurricane, but that doesn’t decrease the danger that exists along beaches on the East Coast. FOX Weather Hurricane Specialist Bryan Norcross has expert analysis of the latest forecast and breaks down the threats to the U.S. on Aug. 19, 2025.
HATTERAS, N.C. – Millions of people up and down the East Coast have been told to prepare for impacts from Hurricane Erin as the monster Category 2 hurricane continues on its journey across the Atlantic, bringing it close to the U.S. this week.
Hurricane Erin is not expected to make landfall in the U.S. However, outer bands from the massive storm could lash the North Carolina coastline with tropical-storm-force winds and heavy rain as it passes by the Outer Banks.
![Abandoned homes on Rodanthe Beach on Hatteras Islands, North Carolina ahead of Hurricane Erin's impacts.]()
Image 1 of 13Abandoned homes on Rodanthe Beach on Hatteras Islands, North Carolina ahead of Hurricane Erin's impacts. (Mike Seidel)
![Abandoned homes on Rodanthe Beach on Hatteras Islands, North Carolina ahead of Hurricane Erin's impacts.]()
Image 2 of 13Abandoned homes on Rodanthe Beach on Hatteras Islands, North Carolina ahead of Hurricane Erin's impacts. (Mike Seidel)
![Abandoned homes on Rodanthe Beach on Hatteras Islands, North Carolina ahead of Hurricane Erin's impacts.]()
Image 3 of 13Abandoned homes on Rodanthe Beach on Hatteras Islands, North Carolina ahead of Hurricane Erin's impacts. (Mike Seidel)
![This image provided by the North Carolina Department of Transportation shows a line of vehicles waiting to evacuate Ocracoke Island ahead of life-threatening impacts from Hurricane Erin.]()
Image 4 of 13This image provided by the North Carolina Department of Transportation shows a line of vehicles waiting to evacuate Ocracoke Island ahead of life-threatening impacts from Hurricane Erin. (North Carolina Department of Transportation)
![This image provided by the North Carolina Department of Transportation shows a line of vehicles waiting to evacuate Ocracoke Island ahead of life-threatening impacts from Hurricane Erin.]()
Image 5 of 13This image provided by the North Carolina Department of Transportation shows a line of vehicles waiting to evacuate Ocracoke Island ahead of life-threatening impacts from Hurricane Erin. (North Carolina Department of Transportation)
![This image shared by FOX Weather Storm Specialist Mike Seidel shows Buxton, North Carolina, from the air.]()
Image 6 of 13This 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 7 of 13A 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 8 of 13A 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 9 of 13This 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 10 of 13This 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 11 of 13Heavy 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 12 of 13Waves 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 13 of 13A 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) ( )
Because of the danger, officials in some North Carolina communities have told residents and visitors to evacuate and declared local states of emergency ahead of possible life-threatening impacts.
"The State Emergency Response Team is poised and ready to respond to any needs from our local communities this week," North Carolina Emergency Management Director Will Ray said in a statement. "As forecasted impacts become clearer, we will plan for the pre-positioning of any necessary resources for rapid deployment along our coast. In the meantime, all visitors and residents along the coast should follow the instructions of local emergency management officials to keep you and your family safe," he added.
North Carolina beaches close as homes threatened by growing waves ahead of Hurricane Erin
Several beaches along North Carolina's Outer Banks have already closed and evacuations are underway due to the expected storm surge from Hurricane Erin. FOX Weather Storm Specialist Mike Seidel has the latest from Rodanthe.
Officials said that with the forecast showing the potential for tropical-storm-force winds, dangerous surf with waves of 15-20 feet at local beaches, flooding of roads and neighborhoods and rip currents along the Outer Banks, officials in some counties announced evacuation orders over the weekend.
Hyde County declared a local state of emergency for Ocracoke Island, and a mandatory evacuation order was issued for visitors on Sunday night and for residents on Tuesday morning.
Minor flooding along Highway 12 on Ocracoke Island after high tide on Tuesday, Aug. 19, 2025.
(NC DOT / FOX Weather)
Dare County also declared a state of emergency and ordered the evacuation of Hatteras Island, which includes the communities of Rodanthe, Waves, Salvo, Avon, Buxton, Frisco and Hatteras. Visitors began to evacuate on Monday, and residents started their evacuation on Tuesday morning.
(FOX Weather)
Because of the danger, a Tropical Storm Watch and a Storm Surge Watch were issued for the Outer Banks of North Carolina.
The Tropical Storm Watch was in effect from Beaufort Inlet to Duck, North Carolina, including Pamlico Sound.
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(FOX Weather)
A Storm Surge Watch is also in place for Cape Lookout to Duck, North Carolina, as the combination of a dangerous storm surge of 2-4 feet and the tide will cause normally dry areas near the coast to be flooded by rising waters moving inland from the shoreline.
A spokesperson for Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina, told FOX Weather their rescue crews conducted nearly 60 water rescues on Monday due to strong rip currents. The town has now told all beachgoers to stay out of the water from Tuesday through Friday as Erin gets even closer.
Stay with FOX Weather for continuing coverage of Hurricane Erin this week.
(FOX Weather)
"These swells are producing powerful rip currents that can create extremely hazardous swimming conditions," said Sam Proffitt, director of Wrightsville Beach Ocean Rescue. "The safety of our beachgoers is always our top priority, and we urge everyone to follow this advisory."
To the north in New Jersey, officials have prohibited swimming and other recreational water activities due to massive waves and life-threatening rip currents.
Swimming, mobile sport fishing vehicle access and other programs have been suspended at Island Beach State Park through at least Thursday due to the hazardous water conditions.
In Wildwood, swimming was prohibited on all local beaches due to the dangerous surf conditions.
"The Wildwood Beach Patrol advises everyone to stay out of the water and to heed all warnings," the police department said. "This restriction includes after-hours, when lifeguards are off-duty."
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.
The Margate City Beach Patrol has also prohibited swimming and bathing until further notice.
"We do not recommend surfing and kayaking at this time," officials said. "Any surfers and kayakers who do venture into the water will be performing these activities at their own risk."
The Margate City Beach Patrol said that wasn’t a decision that they came to lightly, but their "priority is the safety of our beachgoers and lifeguards."
HURRICANE ERIN THREATENS NORTH CAROLINA'S OUTER BANKS WITH ‘EXTREME BEACH AND COASTAL DAMAGE’
Where is Hurricane Erin?
(FOX Weather)
Hurricane Erin has maximum sustained winds of 110 mph with some higher gusts, and the National Hurricane Center (NHC) said that some fluctuations in strength are possible over the next few days.
Hurricane Erin rapidly intensified last week, going from a Category 1 hurricane to a Category 5 hurricane with winds of 160 mph in a matter of hours.
At the time, it was a tiny, compact storm, but that’s no longer the case.
"The more important part of the forecast is that model guidance has continued to show Erin growing in size, and the wind radii have been made larger in the new NHC forecast," the NHC said. "This new forecast now brings tropical-storm-force winds very close to the Mid-Atlantic and southern New England coast later this week."
Currently, hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 80 miles from Erin's center, and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 205 miles.
(FOX Weather)
Hurricane Erin is located more than 700 miles to the south-southeast of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, and is moving off to the northwest at 7 mph.
The NHC said a turn toward the north-northwest with an increase in forward speed is expected on Tuesday, followed by a northward motion on Wednesday and then a northeastward motion on Thursday.
On that track, the center of Hurricane Erin is expected to pass to the east of the Bahamas on Tuesday and Tuesday night, and then move over the western Atlantic between the U.S. East Coast and Bermuda on Wednesday and Thursday.