Raleigh, North Carolina – The East Coast is on high alert as Hurricane Erin pushes dangerously close to North Carolina’s shoreline, with conditions expected to deteriorate rapidly by Thursday. Outer Banks communities could see up to four feet of storm surge, flooding low-lying roads and threatening beach infrastructure.
According to the National Hurricane Center, tropical storm conditions may arrive as early as Wednesday night along the Outer Banks, intensifying through Thursday. Coastal sections of Virginia and much of the Mid-Atlantic remain under a heightened threat of strong winds, beach erosion, and life-threatening surf.
Residents along Pamlico Sound, the Neuse and Bay Rivers, and coastal Dare County should prepare for localized flooding and possible road closures. The storm’s large wind field is also fueling dangerous rip currents up and down the coast, prompting warnings from lifeguards and emergency managers.
While Erin’s center is expected to stay offshore, its impacts will be felt across a wide stretch of the Mid-Atlantic. Travel disruptions and scattered power outages are possible.
Conditions will gradually improve by Friday, but coastal hazards may linger into the weekend. More advisories are likely as Erin moves northward along the Atlantic.
