Hurricane Erin could unleash 100-foot waves across the East Coast this week, forecasters warn
Coastal floods and mortal Rip currents are expected while Hurricane Erin is heading towards the east coast this week, and the powerful storm has the potential to trigger waves of 100 feet (30 meters), warn the forecasters.
Hurricane Erin became the first hurricane of the Atlantic season 2025 during the weekend, quickly intensifying on Saturday August 16 to become a category 5, the strongest type of hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Wind Scale. Erin then weakened and reinforced again and, at the time of the editorial staff, is a category 4 with sustained wind speeds of around 130 MPH (215 km / h).
THE tropical storm is located just east of the south-east of the Bahamas and should travel between the Bermuda and the east coast in the middle of the week, according to a Update of the National Hurricane Hurricane Center (NHC)Posted Monday (August 18). Although Erin is not ready to mark landing, he will probably threaten the ribs with dangerous waves and floods.
Sunday, August 17, the National Weather Service published a Coastal flood For the east coast, with flood forecasts from Tuesday, August 19. The exterior banks off the coast of North Carolina should be particularly vulnerable. The county of Dare, which includes a large part of the outdoor banks, published a emergency Sunday with a compulsory evacuation prescription for Hatteras Island in anticipation of floods.
And the passage of the storm buzzing could give additional energy to the waves motivated by the wind, giving them enough energy to reach huge peaks.
“The latest forecasts indicate that the largest significant wave height could reach values greater than 50 feet with a larger wave the largest partner of more than 100 feet”, ” Jean BidlotA scientist for modeling the ocean and terrestrial system at the European Center for average weather forecasts, said to Newsweek.
The NHC also warned that the hurricane would cause dangerous ocean conditions affecting the Bahamas, the Bermuda, the East Coast and Atlantic Canada in the coming days. “These rough ocean conditions will probably cause surfing and mortal rip currents,” wrote representatives in the update.
In relation: Here is why the storm wave during hurricanes can be so catastrophic
A hurricane is a type of tropical cyclone, or a rapid rotary storm that forms on the tropical oceans. For a tropical cyclone to be classified as a hurricane, it must generate maximum wind speeds of 74 MPH (119 km / h) or more, according to Noaa. There is then a supplement Five categories of hurricanesDefined by the increase in wind speeds of the hurricane threshold of 74 MPH (category 1), up to 157 MPH (252 km / h) or more (category 5).
Hurricane Erin ran in the categories of hurricanes, from category 1 Friday August 15 to a Category 5 on Saturdayby making one of the fastest intensification storms in the history of the Atlantic, The CNN weather has been reported. The storm then Weekend at a category 3 Sunday, August 17, before regaining steam once again.
More hurricanes quickly intensified in the Atlantic Because climate change increases the atmospheric and maritime temperature. Since March 2023, the average temperatures of the surface of the sea in the world have been broken recordingsWith warming water adding additional energy to hurricanes as they grow up.
As category 4, Erin is considered a major hurricane with sustained wind speeds from 130 to 156 MPH (209 to 251 km / h) which would cause “catastrophic damage” to the property, if there were on its way. The hurricane also covers a large area, with its strong winds extending to the outside of around 230 miles (370 km) and more than 80 miles (130 km), depending on the NHC update.
The forecasters expect the hurricane again on Monday, before feeling a certain weakening overnight. However, whatever this variation, Erin will continue to be a major hurricane that has significant risks.
“Even if a weakening is planned from tonight, Erin will remain a large and dangerous major hurricane in the middle of this week,” wrote NHC representatives.
