As Hurricane Erin barrels through the Atlantic, the entire East Coast of the United States is bracing for impact, with North Carolina’s Outer Banks at the forefront of preparations. On Monday, August 18, 2025, the National Weather Service issued a tropical storm watch for much of the North Carolina coast, stretching from the Northern Outer Banks down to Surf City, just north of Topsail Beach. Simultaneously, a storm surge watch was put in place for key Outer Banks islands and areas in Carteret County, signaling the possibility of life-threatening flooding within the next 48 hours, according to WNCN.
Communities in Rodanthe, Buxton, Hatteras Village, Kitty Hawk, Nags Head, Manteo, Ocracoke Island, Beaufort, Harkers Island, and Cedar Island are now facing the risk of flooding more than three feet above ground. The looming threat has prompted Dare and Hyde counties to order evacuations for Hatteras and Ocracoke islands, with hundreds of tourists and residents heeding the call to leave these low-lying communities. For many locals, the evacuation order feels more like a suggestion, but as Ocracoke native Vince O’Neal told The New York Times, “Most people will probably stay, unless they have any health conditions. But you never know. You can’t let your guard down, either.”
Hurricane Erin has intensified rapidly over the past several days, regaining Category 4 strength with sustained winds of 130 mph as of the 8 p.m. advisory on August 18, according to Gulf Coast News. The storm’s center sits 200 miles north of Grand Turk Island, moving northwest at 10 mph. Meteorologists, including Sarah Blue, have emphasized that while the center of Erin is forecast to remain offshore, its effects will be felt far and wide. “We do expect it to lose some steam dropping back to a Cat 3 sometime by Wednesday. It is going to come a little bit close to the East Coast. Their center should stay offshore, though. However, we will see some dangerous rip currents and rough surf across the eastern coast,” Blue stated in her latest update.
The National Hurricane Center describes Erin as “an unusually large hurricane,” with tropical-storm-force winds extending up to 140 miles from its center. The storm’s outer bands are already lashing Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, bringing heavy rain and wind gusts, and up to eight inches of rain could fall in isolated areas. The tropical storm watches now posted for the Turks & Caicos Islands and the southeastern Bahamas reflect the storm’s broad reach, with heavy rain expected through Tuesday. Flash flooding and landslides are possible as Erin passes nearby, and the central Bahamas are under a tropical storm watch, with conditions expected within 12 to 24 hours.
For North Carolina, the major concerns are not just the wind speeds—which are expected to range from 39 mph to 57 mph, with hazardous tropical storm-force gusts—but also the potential for major beach erosion, heavy surf breaching dunes, and strong rip currents. The National Weather Service warns of “major beach erosion with heavy surf breaching dunes” and “strong and numerous rip currents.” As the storm approaches, emergency officials caution that even areas not directly in Erin’s path could face significant risks. “Plan for hazardous wind of equivalent tropical storm force,” forecasters advised, highlighting the unpredictability of such large systems.
One of the most dangerous aspects of Hurricane Erin, experts say, is the risk of rip currents. Nelson Vas, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in New York, explained, “Life threatening surf and rip currents will build Tuesday through Thursday. Thursday into Friday morning looks to be the peak, with 10- to 15-feet surf likely across our ocean beaches.” The threat extends far beyond the immediate reach of the hurricane, as large storms can generate powerful swells that travel hundreds of miles, creating hazardous conditions along the entire eastern seaboard. In 2008, for example, Hurricane Bertha caused deadly rip currents and led to numerous rescues, even while remaining more than 1,000 miles offshore.
High waves are also a concern, with models showing wave heights up to 35 feet near the center of Erin and 10-foot waves possible near the east coast of Florida next week, as reported by Gulf Coast News. While Florida is not expected to experience direct impacts, the dangerous seas will be felt along much of the Atlantic coastline. Meteorologists remain confident that Erin will curve away from the coast by midweek, but any shift westward could put the Outer Banks at greater risk for tropical storm or even hurricane-force winds.
As the Atlantic hurricane season peaks, forecasters at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) predict an above-average season in 2025, with up to 18 named storms expected by the end of November. “Many of the factors we identified ahead of the season are still at play, and conditions are largely tracking along with our May predictions,” said Matt Rosencrans, NOAA’s lead hurricane season forecaster. Of the five to nine hurricanes anticipated, two to five could become major hurricanes—Category 3 or higher—posing significant threats to coastal communities.
Erin’s rapid intensification has been remarkable. The storm jumped from Category 1 to Category 4 in just a day, and at one point reached Category 5 status with maximum sustained winds of 155 mph before undergoing an “eyewall replacement cycle,” a process that often leads to a temporary weakening but can cause the storm to grow even larger. The National Hurricane Center expects Erin to “double or even triple in size over the next few days as it turns north and likely moves away from the East Coast of the United States.”
Meanwhile, meteorologists are keeping a close eye on two additional tropical disturbances in the eastern Atlantic. One, located south and west of the Cabo Verde Islands, has a medium chance of development and could bring heavy rain to the Leeward Islands by Friday. Another, just off the coast of Africa, has a lower chance of forming but is being monitored as it moves westward at 15 mph. The Atlantic hurricane season, which runs from June 1 through November 30, is entering its most active period, and experts urge residents along the coast to remain vigilant.
For those living and vacationing in the Outer Banks and other vulnerable areas, the coming days will be crucial. Officials urge everyone to heed evacuation orders, monitor updates from the National Hurricane Center and local authorities, and avoid entering the ocean during hazardous conditions—even if the skies appear clear. As Jaime Rhome, deputy director of the Hurricane Center, noted, “Any reasonable person might conclude that it’s unsafe to be outside in these conditions.” Yet, when a storm is far offshore, the danger may not be obvious, making it all the more important to pay attention to warnings and beach safety advisories.
With Hurricane Erin’s size, strength, and unpredictable path, North Carolina and the broader East Coast are on high alert. The next 48 hours will reveal just how much of an impact this major storm will have on the Atlantic shoreline, but one thing is certain: preparation and caution are the watchwords as the region faces another formidable test from nature.
