Hurricane Erin Update: Category 3 Strength and East Coast Impacts

Hurricane Erin's Current Status

• 🌀 Hurricane Erin is currently a strong Category 2 storm with maximum winds of 110 mph, but has strengthened to 130 mph.
• 📍 It is located 545 miles west-southwest of Bermuda and has begun moving north, shifting from its previous northwest trajectory.

Expected Impacts on the East Coast

• ⚠️ Outer bands of Hurricane Erin are already reaching the Outer Banks, which are under tropical storm warnings.
• 🌊 Coastal Virginia is also under tropical storm warnings, upgraded from a watch, due to expected wind gusts up to 60 mph.
• 📈 Impacts will include storm surge of up to four feet for the Outer Banks and one to three feet elsewhere, in addition to rainfall flooding.
• 🏊 Big waves and strong rip currents are anticipated along the entire east coast.

Hurricane Strength and Trajectory

• 📈 The hurricane is forecast to strengthen into a Category 3 hurricane, considered a major hurricane, by this afternoon.
• 🗺️ Erin is expected to turn northeastward on Thursday through Sunday, moving into the northern Atlantic.
• ⏳ Impacts from Erin will be felt through at least Thursday, covering the next 36 hours.

Other Atlantic Tropical Activity

• 🌴 The Atlantic tropics are actively ramping up, with two additional areas of interest being monitored.
• 📊 One area has a 60% chance of development in the next seven days, while the other has a 40% chance.
• 🗓️ This increased activity is typical for August and peaks in September.