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Hurricane Erin to drench parts of Virginia while brushing US east coast New Jersey under state of emergency for Hurricane Erin, while Canada braces for waves
(about 5 hours later)
Chris Fawkes with the North America forecast Sarah Keith-Lucas with the latest on the track of Hurricane Erin
Life-threatening rip currents and other dangers brought to the US east coast by nearby Hurricane Erin will last for at least a couple more days, officials say, as the storm continues to head north. The US state of New Jersey has declared a state of emergency as Hurricane Erin threatens to cause coastal flooding, rip currents and gale-force gusts along the Atlantic coasts of the US and Canada.
The storm has already soaked parts of the Atlantic coastline, including the North Carolina Outer Banks, a system of barrier islands. Early on Friday, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) stressed that conditions still posed a threat to life - even as the storm continued to drift away from North America.
High winds and tropical storm conditions can be expected in the Mid Atlantic and southern New England coast through early Friday, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) said. New Jersey has declared a state of emergency. The first hurricane of the Atlantic season is weakening and will soon lose its status, before bringing rain to the UK next week.
Although Erin is still not expected to reach land, its effects are being felt in the closure of beaches and the threat of flooding and road closures. In the meantime, a storm surge up to a metre (3ft) in height is possible in US states such as Rhode Island and Virginia, as well as Canada's Atlantic coast.
It was still a "large and growing hurricane" with maximum sustained winds of about 105mph (165km/h), the NHC noted. The latest measurement suggests maximum sustained winds are near 90mph (150km/h). The NHC continues to warn that Erin is "very large", meaning that hurricane-force winds extend outwards from the centre as far as 125 miles (205km).
Beachgoers have been advised not to swim at most east coast beaches. As a result, Erin has brought stormy conditions up and down the US east coast, causing beach and road closures despite not making landfall at any point.
"Life-threatening surf and rip currents will be churning up and down the east coast through the next couple of days," officials from another organisation, the National Weather Service (NWS) wrote in its own update. New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy made his emergency declaration on Thursday afternoon - citing high winds, large waves and flooding expected to strike parts of the state.
A rip current is a body of water that flows out to sea, potentially dragging humans with it, while the reference to dangerous surf describes powerful waves that could pose another threat to swimmers. "Over the past couple of days, we have seen the effects of Hurricane Erin along the Jersey Shore in the form of dangerous rip tides. Today and tomorrow will be no exception," Murphy said.
"Beachgoers should follow advice from lifeguards, local authorities, and beach warning flags," the NWS advised. Among the other regions that can expect strong gusts are Massachusetts in the US, and Nova Scotia and Newfoundland in Canada, the NHC said.
New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy declared a state of emergency on Thursday afternoon, citing high winds, large waves and flooding expected to strike parts of the state. A map on the Environment Canada website said coastal areas of the Burin and the southern Avalon Peninsulas should expect "large waves, pounding surf, and higher than normal water levels".
"Over the past couple of days, we have seen the effects of Hurricane Erin along the Jersey Shore in the form of dangerous rip tides. Today and tomorrow will be no exception," he said. "As the storm moves past New Jersey over the next 24 hours, we are expecting high surf and rip currents, coastal and flash flooding, and a high erosion risk in parts of the state."
US weather experts have previously warned that the 2025 hurricane season, which runs from 1 June to 30 November, could have an above-average number of storms.
Warmer sea temperatures - made more likely by climate change - and generally favourable atmospheric conditions are behind the forecast.
At the same time, cuts to American research are raising fears about the ability to track and prepare for these often deadly storms.
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In North Carolina, which is still recovering from last year's Hurricane Helene, a state of emergency was declared earlier in the week by Governor Josh Stein. New Jersey is the latest US state with an emergency declaration
Beachgoers were earlier advised not to swim at most US east-coast beaches, as the NHC warned of rip currents. These are bodies of water that flows out to sea, potentially dragging humans with them.
US weather experts have previously warned that the 2025 hurricane season, which runs from 1 June to 30 November, could have an above-average number of storms.
Warmer sea temperatures - made more likely by climate change - and generally favourable atmospheric conditions are behind the forecast.
At the same time, cuts to American research are raising fears about the ability to track and prepare for these often deadly storms.
In the US state of North Carolina, which is still recovering from last year's Hurricane Helene, another emergency was declared earlier in the week by Governor Josh Stein.
Stein implored swimmers to stop entering waters off the coast after dozens of people needed to be rescued off Wrightsville Beach on Monday.Stein implored swimmers to stop entering waters off the coast after dozens of people needed to be rescued off Wrightsville Beach on Monday.
In the Outer Banks, the communities of Hatteras and Ocracoke were ordered to be evacuated, due to a fear they could become disconnected from other islands. The storm went on to soak the Outer Banks - a system of barrier islands in the state. The communities of Hatteras and Ocracoke were ordered to be evacuated, due to a fear they could become disconnected from other islands.
A 96-year-old motel owner on Hatteras, Carol Dillon, told the BBC's US partner CBS News that "at my age, you take what comes".A 96-year-old motel owner on Hatteras, Carol Dillon, told the BBC's US partner CBS News that "at my age, you take what comes".
But she feared that the storm could eat away at the land on which her premises was built. "This is our livelihood," she explained. "We could lose those two buildings that are in the water right now. I'm hoping we won't - I do a lot of praying."But she feared that the storm could eat away at the land on which her premises was built. "This is our livelihood," she explained. "We could lose those two buildings that are in the water right now. I'm hoping we won't - I do a lot of praying."
Erin, the first hurricane of the 2025 Atlantic season, reached category five status on Saturday. It has fluctuated in strength since then, and is currently designated category two. Erin, the first hurricane of the 2025 Atlantic season, reached category five status on Saturday, and has gradually weakened since then.
In Turks and Caicos, an overseas British territory, authorities suspended public services on the largest island while the storm was passing.
More than 150,000 people were left without power for a time in the US island territory of Puerto Rico after high winds damaged electricity lines, according to local energy company Luma.More than 150,000 people were left without power for a time in the US island territory of Puerto Rico after high winds damaged electricity lines, according to local energy company Luma.
The storm has been felt up and down the US east coast - including in Florida