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New York City has closed all its beaches to swimming on both Wednesday and Thursday.
Officials are particularly concerned about the possibility of coastal flooding (Image: AP)
Hurricane Erin is making its way toward the mid-Atlantic coast of the United States, prompting widespread closures of beaches across East Coast cities. Weather forecasters warn that the storm could reach its peak intensity by Thursday and has the potential to re-intensify into a major hurricane.
According to an Associated Press report, states from the Carolinas up through New York City have issued precautionary warnings. While current projections suggest that Erin’s landfall will likely remain offshore, far out at sea, the storm’s impact is already being felt.
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In North Carolina’s Outer Banks, rainfall has begun disrupting daily life. A handful of stilted homes are reported to be precariously perched above eroding beaches, raising concerns about structural safety. High tides threaten to cut off villages and vacation properties along the Outer Banks, while dangerous rip currents are expected from Florida to New England.
Despite the warnings, some locals appear undeterred. “I remember taking canoes out of my front yard to get to school, so I don’t think it’s gonna be that bad,” Jacob Throne, a resident of Hatteras Island, told the Associated Press.
New York City has closed all its beaches to swimming on both Wednesday and Thursday, while New Jersey, Delaware, and Maryland have also temporarily closed access to certain beach areas. Nantucket Island near Massachusetts could see waves cresting over 10 feet (3 meters) later in the week.
In Virginia Beach, the ongoing East Coast Surfing Championships are being impacted as well. Organisers announced the event will pause on Thursday when Erin is expected to pass directly off the Virginia coast.
Despite widespread beach warnings, some swimmers have continued to enter the water. At Wrightsville Beach in North Carolina, more than a dozen people had to be rescued from rip currents on Tuesday alone. Bob Oravec, a forecaster with the National Weather Service, warned against underestimating the ocean’s power. “You can be aware all you want,” he said, “It can still be dangerous.”
Officials are particularly concerned about the possibility of coastal flooding, with waves potentially reaching up to 20 feet (6.1 meters), especially along vulnerable beachfront communities in North Carolina.
The National Hurricane Center is also monitoring two additional tropical disturbances located to the east of Hurricane Erin. These systems could potentially develop into named storms in the coming days. Known as Cape Verde storms, formed off the coast of West Africa, such systems often have thousands of miles of warm ocean water to strengthen over, making them among the most dangerous to North America.
As of Wednesday, Erin remains a strong Category 2 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 110 mph (180 kph). The National Hurricane Center reported that the storm’s tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 500 miles (800 kilometers), making it unusually large and deceptively dangerous. At last check, Erin was located about 335 miles (540 kilometers) south-southeast of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina.
Tropical storm warnings have been issued for parts of North Carolina and Virginia. Meanwhile, in Bermuda, both residents and tourists have been advised to stay out of the water, with rough seas expected to continue through Friday.
- Location :
New York, United States of America (USA)
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