Hurricane Erin continued pushing high waves ashore and creating dangerous rip currents along the U.S. East Coast on Thursday as the extremely large storm continues its turn to the northeast.
Erin has prompted storm surge and tropical storm warnings for much of the North Carolina coast along the Outer Banks, where the greatest impact will be felt. But high surf and rip current warnings stretch from the mid-Atlantic all the way to New England
Beaches were closed to swimming Wednesday and Thursday in New York City, and some others in New Jersey, Maryland and Delaware were temporarily off-limits. Widespread, moderate coastal flooding was forecast for low-lying areas of Long Island and parts of New York City. Off Massachusetts, Nantucket Island could see waves of more than 10 feet this week, AP reported.
Meanwhile, forecasters also are concerned about two other systems that have a chance of forming in Erin’s wake, one currently traveling across the Atlantic and another off the coast of Africa. Neither appears to be a significant threat to land.
The center of Hurricane Erin is expected to continue turning northeast and track over the western Atlantic between the U.S. east coast and Bermuda into early Friday. Bermuda was under a tropical storm warning Thursday.
A combination of fierce winds and huge waves estimated at about 20 feet could cause coastal flooding in many beachfront communities, North Carolina officials warned.
Swells from the storm have overwashed waterfront properties and roads on the barrier islands. Officials had closed Highway 12 on Hatteras Island on Wednesday as the surge increased and waves rose, and the road remained closed Thursday. Ocracoke Island’s connection to its ferry terminal was cut off.
The National Hurricane Center cautioned beachgoers against swimming at most East Coast beaches due to dangerous surf and rip currents.
“Hurricane Erin is churning up massive waves and very rough surf, said AccuWeather lead hurricane expert Alex DaSilva. “Beach erosion along the mid-Atlantic coast is a big concern this week.”
Powerful waves from Hurricane Erin hit beachside homes and flooded streets along North Carolina’s Outer Banks on Tuesday. pic.twitter.com/K5ZZ3K7Ayw
— AccuWeather (@accuweather) August 20, 2025
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As of 8 p.m. Thursday, Hurricane Erin was about 420 miles east-northeast of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina. Its maximum sustained winds had decreased to 100 mph, but it was still a Category 2 hurricane. It was traveling northeast at 20 mph.
Forecasters said gradual weakening is expected and it will likely be post-tropical by Saturday.
Erin’s forecast track shows the storm heading northeast farther out into the open Atlantic. Erin is expected to pass south of Canada on Friday and Saturday, forecasters said.
Erin is a large hurricane. Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 105 miles from the center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 320 miles.
“Swells generated by Erin will affect the Bahamas, Bermuda, the east coast of the United States, and Atlantic Canada during the next several days,” the hurricane center said. “These rough ocean conditions will likely cause life-threatening surf and rip currents.”
Beach-goers across the East Coast are advised against swimming due to the conditions. But surfers gathered along Florida’s East Coast as far south as Palm Beach.
The hurricane center issued tropical storm warnings for Bermuda was under a tropical storm warning Thursday evening. The tropical storm warning for parts of North Carolina and Virginia was discontinued.
Forecasters also are monitoring three other systems in the Atlantic Basin, two in the central Atlantic and one closer to Africa.
The first central Atlantic system is currently a disorganized cluster of thunderstorms but is likely to organize into a tropical depression or tropical storm by this weekend and reach the vicinity of the easternmost Caribbean Islands by Friday.
As of 8 p.m. Thursday, it has a 80% chance of developing in the next seven days, and a 60% chance of developing in the next 48 hours, up from 40% earlier in the day. Its potential track has shifted north compared to previous outlooks.
A new disturbance also emerged Thursday afternoon in the central Atlantic, about 1,200 miles southwest of the Azores. It is producing thunderstorms and showers, and has a 20% chance of developing in the next two to seven days as it moves slowly eastward.
Another system that emerged off the coast of Africa on Monday night has a 50% chance of developing within the next two to seven days, forecasters said. It could become a short-lived tropical depression but will enter an unfavorable environment later in the week as it moves west-southwest, lessening chances for development.
The next named storm will be Fernand.
Information from the Associated Press was used in this report.