Hurricane Erin: 7.7 million at risk of coastal flooding, beach closures and evacuation orders
Although the center of the Category 2 hurricane will not make landfall in U.S. territory, its powerful winds and associated storm surge will pound the East Coast through early Friday morning.
Hurricane Erin's surge on the Outer Banks.
“Beachgoers are advised not to enter the water at most U.S. beaches,” the National Weather Service (NWS) warned as strong surf and winds from Hurricane Erin reached the Outer Banks. Although the Category 2 hurricane will not make landfall, authorities have been warning for days that it will create dangerous conditions along the East Coast.
“Unfortunately, Hurricane Erin’s storm surge has been too strong for [Highway] NC12 tonight,” the North Carolina Department of Transportation said, announcing that it had been forced to close sections of the road that connects the islands.
"Conditions are too unsafe for people to be driving in. If you come across any flood waters, turn around, don't drown," they warned.
Some 7.7 million people were in areas at risk of coastal flooding on Thursday. The warning was extended through Maryland, Virginia, South Carolina and North Carolina. Some areas will also face strong winds and rain, which could extend throughout the day into Friday.
Currituck, Hyde and Dare are among the North Carolina counties that declared a local state of emergency, along with evacuation orders for some areas. Gov. Josh Stein had followed suit earlier in the week, assuring in his declaration of emergency that the storm was expected to affect at least two-thirds of North Carolina counties.
"While Hurricane Erin is not expected to make landfall in New Jersey, its impacts are being felt along the Jersey Shore," Governor Phil Murphy warned on Wednesday. Hours later he extended his warnings, assuring that "dangerous surf conditions" would linger through Thursday, "particularly at beaches in Monmouth, Ocean, Atlantic, and Cape May Counties."
"As Hurricane Erin passes by the Shore, we urge everyone to avoid swimming and wading in the ocean," he said.
Beach closures
In New York, Governor Kathy Hochul banned swimming on Long Island beaches and restricted it on others in the state. From Massachusetts, her counterpart Maura Healey asked beachgoers to stay "stay safe and alert" especially against high surf and rip currents, a current of water that moves from the shore out to sea. "Please be careful while the storm passes through our region and keep an eye out for neighbors who might need assistance."
"Please avoid swimming in the ocean, especially when lifeguards are not present. It is more important that you stay alive than get one more beach day before the end of summer," Governor Murphy asked.
The trajectory of the Erin
According to the latest forecasts from the National Weather Service, the center of the storm will move across the Atlantic between the east coast of the country and Bermuda until early Friday morning, when it will pass south of the coast of Canada. It is expected to lose strength to become a post-tropical storm on Saturday.
Although its eye will not cross the mainland, authorities have been insisting for days that it will still pose a danger to coastal areas. The NWS in Wakefield, Virginia, insisted on that during the last hours: "Even though #HurricaneErin will not make landfall, we will still experience multiple hazards across the area," it published on its X account.
"As Erin’s wind field expands, tropical-storm-force gusts of 40 to 50 mph are expected along the coast, which could result in tree damage and power outages," they wrote on social networks.
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