Hurricane Erin Threatens East Coast With Widespread Storm Watches

Hurricane Erin, currently a Category 2 storm with maximum winds of 105 mph, is moving northward off the U.S. East Coast and is not expected to make landfall but will still bring significant impacts including dangerous winds, flooding, and surf conditions across the Eastern Shore, Lower Chesapeake Bay, and the Outer Banks of North Carolina. The storm's large size, with hurricane-force winds extending up to 80 miles and tropical-storm-force winds up to 230 miles (expected to grow to 600 miles), has led to expanded Tropical Storm Watches and warnings from Virginia to North Carolina and Bermuda, with authorities issuing mandatory evacuations and beach closures. Experts note that Erin's rapid intensification reflects a troubling trend linked to rising sea surface temperatures, which fuel stronger and faster-growing hurricanes. While maximum winds pose localized damage risks, the storm's size increases the threat of widespread storm surges, coastal flooding, strong rip currents, and dangerous surf, prompting widespread preparations including Coast Guard staging. Officials emphasize that impacts will extend far beyond the storm's center, with flooding and wind hazards potentially continuing into Friday depending on Erin's speed and size. The National Weather Service and other agencies continue to monitor and update the forecast with live briefings planned to inform residents along the East Coast.