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Hurricane Erin: Dangerous seas forecast for US East Coast as storm grows Hurricane Erin: Dangerous seas forecast for US East Coast as storm grows
(about 5 hours later)
Watch: Parts of US brace for huge waves, flooding as Hurricane Erin churns off East CoastWatch: Parts of US brace for huge waves, flooding as Hurricane Erin churns off East Coast
Forecasters have warned of possible life-threatening flooding on the US East Coast from rising waters caused by Hurricane Erin. Beach-goers from Florida to New England have been warned to beware of rip currents as Hurricane Erin churns off the US East Coast.
Erin, currently a Category 3 storm, is expected to grow in size as it moves northwards in the western Atlantic Ocean. While the storm is not expected to make landfall, forecasters have warned of possible life-threatening flooding in North Carolina as Erin swirls northwards in the Atlantic Ocean. It swamped homes and roads in the US island territory of Puerto Rico.
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 weakened to a category two storm on Tuesday, but is still packing maximum sustained winds of 105mph (168km/h), said the US National Hurricane Center (NHC).
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. Meteorologists say the hurricane is unusually big, with tropical storm winds spanning 230 miles from its core, and is forecast to get even bigger.
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. By Tuesday night, the centre of the storm was expected to pass to the east of the Bahamas.
On Wednesday and Thursday, it is forecast to move north between Bermuda and the US East Coast. On Wednesday and Thursday, the NHC said Erin would move between Bermuda and the US East Coast.
The Outer Banks are already bracing for heavy surf and high winds. The Outer Banks, a string of barrier islands off North Carolina, 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. Mandatory evacuations of Hatteras and Ocracoke have been ordered amid fears that the main highway linking them to other islands could become impassable.
Officials warned that life-threatening inundation from coastal flooding was possible from Wednesday, with waves of 15ft (4.6m). Some roadways could be underwater for several days.
At least 60 people were rescued on Monday from rip currents – which flow away from the shore and can quickly pull people into the ocean - at Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina.
Map: Predicted path of Hurricane ErinMap: Predicted path of Hurricane Erin
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. North Carolina Governor Josh Stein declared a state of emergency on Tuesday as he warned that residents along some parts of the coast might need to evacuate.
Local media reported that dozens of people had already been rescued from rip currents on Monday at Wrightsville Beach in North Carolina. Further north, some beaches in Long Island, New York and in New Jersey have been placed off limits to swimmers, along with Rehoboth Beach, Delaware.
Meteorologists say Erin is "unusually large" and predicted to grow further in size. Erin, the first hurricane of the 2025 Atlantic season, "explosively deepened and intensified" on Saturday into a category five storm and has since been fluctuating in strength.
As of 05:00 local time (09:00 GMT), the storm was packing maximum sustained winds of 115mph (185 km/h). In Turks and Caicos, an overseas British territory, authorities suspended public services on the largest island while the storm was passing.
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.