Hurricane Erin has rapidly become more resistant to Category 5 storms. It is not expected to hit directly in the US, but creates dangerous surfing.
How to prepare for a hurricane
It’s important to take these steps before the hurricane season.
Hurricane Erin was reinforced into a scary Category 5 hurricane with 160 mph sustained winds as the storm moved west through the Atlantic.
The hurricane is not expected to be a direct hit in the US, but it will cause dangerous surfing situations along the East Coast. Erin will head west-northwest later that day and north-west after the weekend, passing north of the Caribbean island.
On the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale, the minimum Category 5 wind threshold is 157 mph. By size, Category 5 hurricanes are the strongest possible one.
“(b)y mid-week, Erin is forecasting at least twice or triple the size, which will result in coarse oceanic conditions over the Western Atlantic,” the Hurricane Center said.
The rain strip outside the storm was already beginning to affect the island, predictors said on August 16th.
Erin was formed as the first hurricane of the Atlantic season on August 15th, and soon became the first major hurricane. The major hurricanes are those that reach at least Category 3 status. A quick reinforcement occurs when a hurricane skips one or more categories on the Safir Simpson Hurricane-style scale within a day.
Forecasters said Erin would continue to intensify rapidly.
Atlantic hurricane season officially began on June 1st and continues until the end of November. Aggressive hurricane weather usually peaks between mid-August and mid-October. The first hurricane of the Atlantic Season with average form around August 11th.
Hurricane Elin Tracker
This predicted track shows the most likely pathway in the center of the storm. The full width of the storm or its impact is not shown, and the storm center can move out of the cone for up to 33% of the time.
Hurricane Erin Spaghetti Model
The illustrations include an array of prediction tools and models, not all are created equal. Hurricane Center uses only the top four or five best performance models to make its predictions.
How do hurricanes form?
Hurricanes originate in the tropical regions above warm waters. Thunderstorm clusters can develop across the ocean when water temperatures exceed 80 degrees Fahrenheit. If conditions are correct, clusters are swirling into tropical waves and storms known as tropical depression.
Tropical depression becomes a named tropical storm when its sustained wind speed reaches 39 mph. When the wind reaches 74 mph, the storm officially becomes a hurricane.
Get ready for a hurricane now
Potentially delaying preparations for salvation can mean waiting until it’s too late. “Get disaster supply while the shelves are still in stock and flood insurance requires a 30-day waiting period, so get that insurance inspection early,” NOAA recommends.
- Establish an evacuation plan: If you are at risk of a hurricane, you will need an evacuation plan. Now is the time to plan where you will go and how you will get there.
- Assemble disaster supply: Whether you’re evacuating or evacuating, you’ll need supplies not only to get through the storm, but also for the potentially long aftermath.
- Get an insurance inspection and document your property: Contact your insurance company or agent now to ask for an insurance inspection and make sure you have sufficient insurance to repair or replace your home or belongings. Remember that home insurance and tenant insurance don’t cover floods, so you’ll need a separate insurance for that. Flood insurance is available through your company, agent, or through your national flood insurance program. Flood insurance requires a 30-day waiting period, so take action now.
- Create a family communication plan: NOAA said he took the time to write down your hurricane plan and share it with your family. Determine where family gatherings are to be located and include out-of-town locations in the event of evacuation.
- It strengthens your home: Now is the time to improve your home’s ability to withstand the effects of a hurricane. Trim the wood; attach storm shutters, accordion shutters, and/or impact glass. Seal the wall opening.
