Hurricane Erin is advancing north through the Atlantic and bringing dangerous conditions to the North Carolina Outer Banks, with storm surge, flooding, and strong winds expected to impact the region this week.
State of Emergency Declared
The National Hurricane Center (NHC) warned on Wednesday that parts of the Outer Banks could become inaccessible, with waves reaching 20 feet and heavy surf causing severe beach erosion.
In response, Governor Josh Stein declared a state of emergency on Tuesday, unlocking state resources for rescue and recovery efforts. Authorities have issued tropical storm and storm surge warnings along the North Carolina coast.
Mandatory Evacuations and Ferry Operations
Officials ordered mandatory evacuations for Ocracoke and Hatteras islands, two of the most vulnerable areas in Dare and Hyde counties.
- Local ferries evacuated over 2,200 people from Ocracoke, with the last scheduled departure set for Wednesday morning.
- Ferries to Hatteras will run as long as weather conditions permit.
Despite evacuation orders, some residents are choosing to stay. Chris Styron, manager of the Pony Island Inn in Ocracoke, said he plans to remain. “We’re used to storms like this… we’re not really worried – it’s so far offshore,” he told local media.
Erin’s Strength and Path
As of Wednesday, Erin was a Category 2 hurricane with sustained winds of 100 mph (155 km/h). The storm’s center is forecast to move between Bermuda and the U.S. East Coast midweek, keeping its most dangerous winds offshore.
- Tropical-storm-force winds extend up to 265 miles from the eye.
- Hurricane-force winds reach as far as 90 miles.
The NHC cautioned that even without a direct landfall, life-threatening surf and rip currents will impact much of the East Coast.
Wider East Coast Impacts
Farther north, beach closures and restrictions are in effect:
- New Jersey beaches from Cape May to Sandy Hook have banned swimming through Friday.
- New York City Mayor Eric Adams ordered public beaches, including Coney Island and Brighton Beach, closed on Wednesday and Thursday.
The storm comes with a small silver lining: cooler weather in New York City, with highs only reaching 70°F, well below seasonal averages.
Atlantic Hurricane Season
Erin is the fifth named storm of the 2025 Atlantic season and the first to reach hurricane strength. The storm rapidly intensified earlier this week, briefly reaching Category 5 strength, a level not seen since Hurricane Milton in October 2024.