This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . The next check for changes will be

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c3r41zeqnexo

The article has changed 11 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 5 Version 6
Hurricane Erin threatens US East Coast with life-threatening waves Hurricane Erin: Dangerous seas forecast for US East Coast as storm grows
(about 7 hours later)
Dangerous surf and rip tides have been forecast for the US East Coast La Pared beach in Puerto Rico
Hurricane Erin has strengthened to a Category 4 storm as it threatens to bring life-threatening surf and rip currents to the eastern coast of the United States. Forecasters have warned of possible life-threatening flooding on the US East Coast from rising waters caused by Hurricane Erin.
The rains caused by the storm are already beginning to hit the south-eastern Bahamas, and the Turk and Caicos Islands, where a tropical storm warning is in effect. Erin, currently a Category 3 storm, is expected to grow in size as it moves northwards in the western Atlantic Ocean.
While Erin is not expected to make landfall on the islands, it is expected to bring rainfall of up to six inches (15.2cm) to the Turks and Caicos and the eastern Bahamas. While it is not forecast to make landfall, it is predicted to bring life-threatening currents and waves to the Bahamas, Bermuda, the US East Coast and Canada's Atlantic coast.
Erin, the first hurricane of the 2025 Atlantic season, "explosively deepened and intensified" on Saturday into a Category 5 storm, before briefly losing force and now regaining strength. A tropical storm warning is in effect for the Turks and Caicos Islands and southeast Bahamas, while on the Outer Banks, a string of islands off the North Carolina coast, a storm surge watch has been declared.
The centre of the storm is predicted to pass to the east of the Bahamas on Tuesday, according to the US-based National Hurricane Center.
On Wednesday and Thursday, it is forecast to move north between Bermuda and the US East Coast.
The Outer Banks are already bracing for heavy surf and high winds.
The authorities there have ordered a mandatory evacuation of the islands of Hatteras and Ocracoke, warning that the main highway linking them to other islands could become impassable.
Map: Predicted path of Hurricane ErinMap: Predicted path of Hurricane Erin
As of 20:00 local time on Monday (01:00 BST Tuesday), the storm was packing maximum sustained winds of 130mph (210 km/h) as it passed east of the Bahamas. Swimmers and surfers have been warned of deadly rip currents - where currents of water flow away from the shore and can quickly pull people into the ocean - potentially forming along the entire US East Coast.
In Turks and Caicos, an overseas British territory, authorities suspended public services on its largest island and told residents in vulnerable areas to pack in case of evacuation. Local media reported that dozens of people had already been rescued from rip currents on Monday at Wrightsville Beach in North Carolina.
BBC Weather's lead presenter Helen Willetts says that Hurricane Erin is currently "a major storm". Meteorologists say Erin is "unusually large" and predicted to grow further in size.
"Although at this stage it's not expected to make a direct hit to land, it will bring considerable amounts of rain, leading to flash flooding, coastal flooding from storm surge, wind damage and dangerous rip currents," she adds. As of 05:00 local time (09:00 GMT), the storm was packing maximum sustained winds of 115mph (185 km/h).
"We have already seen heavy rain falls in Puerto Rico - 82mm in 24 hours - and in Anguilla, 62.3mm." BBC Weather lead presenter Helen Willetts said: "Although at this stage it's not expected to make a direct hit to land, it will bring considerable amounts of rain, leading to flash flooding, coastal flooding from storm surge, wind damage and dangerous rip currents."
"We have already seen heavy rain falls in Puerto Rico - 82mm in 24 hours - and in Anguilla, 62.3mm," she added.
Erin, the first hurricane of the 2025 Atlantic season, "explosively deepened and intensified" on Saturday into a Category 5 storm and has since been fluctuating in strength.
In Turks and Caicos, an overseas British territory, authorities suspended public services on the largest island and told residents in vulnerable areas to pack in case of evacuation.
More than 150,000 people were also left without power in Puerto Rico after high winds damaged electricity lines, according to local energy company Luma.More than 150,000 people were also left without power in Puerto Rico after high winds damaged electricity lines, according to local energy company Luma.
But the firm said it had carried out emergency repairs and that by Sunday evening local time, 95% of its customers had working electricity.But the firm said it had carried out emergency repairs and that by Sunday evening local time, 95% of its customers had working electricity.
The hurricane's outer rain bands have started to affect the Bahamas, the US National Hurricane Center (NHC) said.
While the storm is not expected to hit the islands directly, the country's Disaster Risk Management Authority encouraged residents to prepare.
Its managing director, Aarone Sargent, told Bahamians to check which shelters were nearest to them and to ensure they knew of alternative shelters should the first one be full.
"These storms are very volatile and can make sudden shifts in movement," he said.
The NHC forecast is for the core of Erin to pass to the east of the south-eastern Bahamas today and move between Bermuda and the eastern coast of the US by the middle of the week.
It also said that Erin would remain "a large and dangerous hurricane" through this time.
The Outer Banks - a string of islands off the coast of North Carolina - are already bracing for heavy surf and high winds.
The authorities there have ordered a mandatory evacuation of Hatteras Island, warning that the main highway linking Hatteras to other islands could become impassable.
Forecasters have also warned of dangerous rip tides which could affect the entire US East Coast.