Hurricane Erin: What to Know About Its Impact on the East Coast

Hurricane Erin's Current Status and Expansion

• 🌀 Hurricane Erin is currently in the Atlantic, with winds down to 105 mph, but its circumference is expanding.
• ⚠️ The hurricane force winds now extend 80 miles out, and tropical force winds reach 245 miles out, indicating a growing impact zone.

Coastal Threats and Projections

• 🌊 The North Carolina coast, particularly the Outer Banks, is projected to have the closest approach by Wednesday night into early Thursday.
• ⚠️ Mandatory evacuations are in place for the Outer Banks due to life-threatening rip tides and beach erosion.
• 📈 Offshore winds and waves are combining to create up to 30-foot high waves along the coast.

Regional Wave Heights and Dangers

• 🏖️ Wave heights are expected to be 8-12 feet in Virginia and the Carolinas, and upwards of 6 feet in New Jersey.
• riptide Rip currents are a significant danger, even more so than the waves themselves, and are expected to be dangerous.
• 🚩 A rule of thumb is provided: don't go in the water if rip currents are breaking fast, regardless of lifeguards.

Atlantic and European Impact

• 🌍 The storm is large enough that it is projected to hit England next Wednesday, holding itself together.
• 🚢 This storm is expected to significantly impact sea lanes in the North Atlantic.

Understanding the Cone of Uncertainty

• ❓ The cone of uncertainty can be perplexing, but it represents the potential path of the storm's center.
• 🎯 The current concern is a storm that is 300 miles away but still causing tremendous damage along the coast.