The US East could see the impact from Hurricane Erin
Hurricane Erin passes east of the United States, but it still had an impact. As Erin continues to grow in size, the tropical storm winds are 200 miles away from the center of the storm.
Weather Channel
- Erin is the fifth-name storm of the Atlantic hurricane season and the first to reach hurricane status.
- Erin’s core is expected to pass through the Turkish and Caicos Islands and the southeastern Bahamas tonight and Monday.
Hurricane Erin, which exploded into a Category 5 powerhouse, was downgraded to a Category 3 storm on August 17, but the RIP flow and surf remained “life-threatening” for beach fans along the US East Coast, the National Hurricane Center said.
The storm, still dangerous 125 mph winds, was in the heart of about 200 miles north-northwest of San Juan, Puerto Rico, according to the NHC. Just a day ago, Erin’s sustained wind reached 160 mph.
Still a major hurricane, Erin is the fifth-name storm of the Atlantic hurricane season and the first to reach hurricane status.
Erin’s core is expected to pass through the Turkish and Caicos Islands and the southeastern Bahamas on August 17th and August 18th. French and Dutch weather services have cancelled the tropical storm clocks in St. Martin, St. Barthelmy and Sintmarten.
Richard Pash, a senior Hurricane Specialist at the NHC, was one of the predictors who warned that Erin was expected to create life-threatening surf and rift flows along beaches in the US, Bermuda and Atlantic Canada for several days.
Erin was a tropical storm before he took the Hurricane status on August 15th. Earlier on August 16, when the winds exceeded 110 mph to gain Category 3 status, it became a major hurricane, and a Category 5 storm with a maximum sustained wind of 160 mph before the winds ejected after that day.
According to Poweroutage.us, almost the entire island in the US Virgin Islands had no power early on August 17th – 19,126 of its 23,252 customers. Only scattered outages in St. John and St. Croix were reported.
While the US coast is unlikely to see a direct hit, powerful offshore hurricanes can create huge, dangerous waves that are far from their center, said Alex Dasilva, a leading hurricane expert at Accuweather.
“The storm is predicted to remain hundreds of miles from the East Coast,” Dasilva said, adding that “the beaches along the entire East Coast, from Florida to New England to the Atlantic Canada, will experience rough waves and dangerous rifts as Erin tracks north and ultimately northeast.”
Hurricane Center director Michael Brennan said that as the storm moves north, 50 feet of waves could occur near the centre and on the right side of Erin, breaking large waves on the beaches along the coast.
According to the Hurricane Centre and the local National Weather Service’s office, wave heights, long swells and life-threatening rifts — powerful water flows that can rapidly transport swimmers to deeper bodies of water are expected to increase along the beaches on the east coast by August 18th.
The National Weather Service office in Morehead City, North Carolina said on August 17th, “It said, “Even from life-threatening rifts, damage to beach erosion, major coastal floods and the threat of very dangerous waves.”
Erin quickly exceeded expectations and went through a period of strengthening that the Hurricane Centre calls “rapid strengthening.” Erin’s burst of reinforcement is one of the fastest recorded in the Atlantic.
Erin’s winds increased from 75 to 120 mph on August 15th at 45 mph in just 12 hours. Ultimately, its wind speed increased to a total of 80 mph over 18 hours from Friday to Saturday.
In a postseason overview of the 2024 hurricane season, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration reported that Hurricane Milton’s strengthening rate (90 mph in 24 hours in October 2024) was “one of the best observed ever.”
At least two other hurricanes have surpassed that increase. In 2005, the winds at Hurricane Wilma increased by 125 mph in 24 hours. In 2007, Hurricane Felix’s wind speed increased by 100 mph in 24 hours, according to data from Hurricane Centre.
The Tropical Storm Watch came into effect on August 17th in the southeastern Bahamas. Tropical storm warnings are effective in the Turkish and Caicos Islands. This means that tropical storms are expected within 24 hours.
Erin’s expanded quadrant rainbands shook Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands late August 16th. The National Weather Service warned that up to eight inches of rain could be possible.
On the night of August 16th, a buoy near the storm north-northeast direction from San Juan, Puerto Rico recorded significant wave heights of 22-28 feet. This is the average of one-third of the waves measured on the buoy.
The Hurricane Center is monitoring two other potential tropical disorders. This includes potential tropical disturbances hundreds of miles away from the North Carolina coast.
Atlantic hurricane season officially began on June 1st and continues until the end of November. The Atlantic Basin includes the Atlantic, the Caribbean, and the American Gulf. Based on the 30-year climate period from 1991 to 2020, the average Atlantic hurricane season has 14 storms, seven hurricanes and three major hurricanes, says the NHC.
Aggressive hurricane weather usually peaks between mid-August and mid-October.
Contribution: Reuters
