Article first published: Tuesday, Aug. 19, 2025, 4 a.m. ET

Article last updated: Tuesday, Aug. 19, 2025, 10 p.m. ET

System type: Hurricane, Category 2

System name: Erin

As per the National Hurricane Center’s 10 p.m. Tuesday update, Erin found new strength and has evolved from a Category 3 hurricane into a Category 2 hurricane with sustained winds of 100 mph. Category 2 Hurricane Erin is in the Atlantic Ocean, 585 miles west-southwest of Bermuda and 540 miles south-southeast of Cape Hatteras North Carolina. With maximum sustained winds of 100 mph, the hurricane is moving to the north-northwest at 12 mph.

“… the center of Erin will pass to the east of the Bahamas tonight, and then move over the western Atlantic between the U.S. east coast and Bermuda on Wednesday and Thursday”, meteorologists observed. They also said “Satellite imagery and reports from an Air Force Reserve Hurricane Hunter aircraft indicate that Erin is getting better organized, and slow strengthening is expected through Thursday night.”

Yesterday (Monday)

The Category 4 hurricane named Erin developed into a Category 3 hurricane with winds of 125 mph. Erin was previously forecasted as a Category 4 hurricane but has since gained strength. A tropical storm watch and a storm surge watch have been issued by forecasters for the North Carolina Outer Banks.

Watches and warnings currently in effect

• Storm Surge Warning for Cape Lookout to Duck, North Carolina

• Tropical Storm Warning for Beaufort Inlet, North Carolina to Duck, North Carolina including Pamlico and Albemarle sounds.

• Tropical Storm Watch for:

• North of Duck, North Carolina to Chincoteague, Virginia

• Bermuda

Meaning of the different watches and warnings

A Tropical Storm Warning means that tropical storm conditions are expected somewhere within the warning area within the next 36 hours.

A Tropical Storm Watch means that tropical storm conditions are possible within the watch area, generally within 48 hours.

A Storm Surge Warning means there is a danger of life-threatening inundation, from rising water moving inland from the coastline, during the next 36 hours in the indicated locations. For a depiction of areas at risk, please see the National Weather Service Storm Surge Watch/Warning Graphic, available at hurricanes.gov. This is a life-threatening situation. Persons located within these areas should take all necessary actions to protect life and property from rising water and the potential for other dangerous conditions. Promptly follow evacuation and other instructions from local officials.

Interests along the U.S Mid-Atlantic coast, the southern New England coast, and Atlantic Canada should monitor the progress of Erin.

Hazards affecting land

Rainfall. Rainfall will be diminishing across the Bahamas tonight. Heavy rainfall is possible on the Outer Banks of North Carolina Wednesday night into Thursday, with the potential for 1 to 2 inches.

For a complete forecast of rainfall and flash flooding associated with Erin, please see the National Weather Service Storm Total Rainfall Graphic, available at hurricanes.gov/graphics_at5.shtml?rainqpf

Wind. Tropical storm conditions are expected over portions of the North Carolina Outer Banks beginning late Wednesday or Wednesday night. Tropical storm conditions are possible in the watch area north of Duck, North Carolina to Cape Charles Light beginning Thursday. Tropical storm conditions are possible in Bermuda beginning Thursday.

Surf. Swells generated by Erin will affect the Bahamas, Bermuda, the east coast of the United States, and Atlantic Canada during the next several days. These rough ocean conditions are expected to cause life-threatening surf and rip currents.

A depiction of rip current risk for the United States can be found at: hurricanes.gov/graphics_at5.shtml?ripCurrents

Storm surge. The combination of a dangerous storm surge and the tide will cause normally dry areas near the coast to be flooded by rising waters moving inland from the shoreline. The water could reach the following heights above ground somewhere in the indicated areas if the peak surge occurs at the time of high tide…

Cape Lookout to Duck, North Carolina…2 to 4 ft

The deepest water will occur along the immediate coast where the surge will be accompanied by large and dangerous waves. Surge-related flooding depends on the relative timing of the surge and the tidal cycle, and can vary greatly over short distances.

For a complete depiction of areas at risk of storm surge inundation, please see the National Weather Service Peak Storm Surge Graphic, available at hurricanes.gov/graphics_at5.shtml?peakSurge.

Source: National Hurricane Center