News & Current Events
Hurricane Erin Tracker Shows 7 States In The Danger Zone
As Hurricane Erin makes its way to the mainland, millions of Americans in seven states are being warned to get ready for the threat.
The season’s first Atlantic Ocean storm is heading northwest at 13 mph with maximum sustained winds of 130 mph.
Although it reached Category 3, Erin is still predicted to cause significant damage after briefly intensifying to Category 5 status on Saturday, August 16, which could bring dangerous rip currents and potentially fatal conditions (via NBC News).
Officials in North Carolina have now proclaimed a state of emergency and mandated evacuations for many coastal communities.
Additionally, portions of South Carolina, Georgia, Virginia, New Jersey, New York, and Massachusetts are under flood warnings.
Despite being about 200 miles offshore, Erin is predicted to produce enormous 20-foot waves and hazardous rip currents throughout the East Coast, even though it is not predicted to reach landfall.
Forecasters predict gusts of roughly 115 mph thanks to scientists’ use of satellite data, though the National Hurricane Center is warning that this figure should be interpreted with some caution.
The NHC stated, “There are mixed signals on Erin’s future intensity,” according to The Daily Mail. “More favorable environmental shear and upper-level divergence in 24–36 hours could allow some re-intensification, but Erin’s slow motion and large size may bring cooler water to the surface, limiting significant strengthening.”
The storm is predicted to impact the Tri-State Area until Thursday, August 20, primarily affecting the South Shore of Long Island and the Jersey Shore.
Ocracoke Island has also been placed under emergency in Hyde County, and residents and visitors have already been evacuated.
“While Hurricane Erin is expected to stay well off our coast, the system will continue to increase in size and is forecast to bring life-threatening impacts to the Ocracoke coastline and render Highway 12 impassable,” stated Donnie Shumate, Hyde County Public Information Officer, in a press release.
Even though the storm may have lessened in the last few hours, the NHC warns that Erin will continue to be “dangerous” for the remainder of the week, so it’s crucial to heed the local government’s instructions.
“Even though some weakening is forecast beginning Monday night, Erin will remain a large and dangerous major hurricane through the middle of the week,” they stated.
While warnings remain in effect for the southeast Bahamas and Turks and Caicos Islands, the Bahamas government has issued a Tropical Storm Watch for the central Bahamas in addition to the US.
The majority of the 38,000 residents of Dare County, North Carolina, have been evacuated, and emergency management director Drew Pearson has sent out a fairly clear message to the local population.
“I encourage all residents and visitors to heed the evacuation order and take action to protect themselves, to protect their property, and to get up and leave — now,” he stated.
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