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

Article last updated: Tuesday, Aug. 19, 2025, 7 a.m. ET

System type: Hurricane, Category 2

System name: Erin

As per the National Hurricane Center’s 7 a.m. Tuesday update, the Category 3 hurricane named Erin developed into a Category 2 hurricane with winds of 110 mph. Erin was previously forecasted as a Category 3 hurricane but has since gained strength. Category 2 Hurricane Erin is in the Atlantic Ocean, 665 miles southwest of Bermuda and 720 miles south-southeast of Cape Hatteras North Carolina. With maximum sustained winds of 110 mph, the hurricane is moving to the northwest at 7 mph.

“… the center of Erin will pass to the east of the Bahamas today and tonight, and then move over the western Atlantic between the U.S. east coast and Bermuda on Wednesday and Thursday”, forecasters noted about the hurricane.

Yesterday (Monday)

The Category 4 hurricane named Erin developed into a Category 3 hurricane with winds of 110 mph. It 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

• Tropical Storm Warning for:

• Turks and Caicos Islands

• Southeast Bahamas

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

• Tropical Storm Watch for:

• Central Bahamas

• Beaufort Inlet to Duck, North Carolina including Pamlico Sound

Meaning of the different watches and warnings

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

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

A Storm Surge Watch means there is a possibility of life- threatening inundation, from rising water moving inland from the coastline, in the indicated locations during the next 48 hours. For a depiction of areas at risk, please see the National Weather Service Storm Surge Watch/Warning Graphic, available at hurricanes.gov.

Interests in the northwestern Bahamas, Bermuda, and the U.S Mid-Atlantic and southern New England coast should monitor the progress of Erin. Additional tropical storm watches and warnings may be required later today.

Hazards affecting land

Rainfall. Outer bands of Erin will produce localized areas of heavy rainfall across portions of the Turks and Caicos today and through tonight for the Bahamas. Additional rainfall of 1 to 3 inches, with storm total amounts to 8 inches, are possible, which could lead to flash and urban flooding. Heavy rainfall is possible on the Outer Banks of North Carolina Wednesday night into Thursday with potential for 1 to 2 inches and a local maximum of 4 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 for a few more hours across the Turks and Caicos Islands and the southeast Bahamas. Tropical storm conditions are possible in portions of the central Bahamas today. Tropical storm conditions are possible over portions of the North Carolina Outer Banks beginning late Wednesday or Wednesday night.

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. Minor coastal flooding is possible in areas of onshore winds in the Turks and Caicos Islands and the southeast Bahamas. Near the coast, the surge will be accompanied by large waves.

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