Hurricane Erin remains a Category 4 storm, forecast to bring life-threatening surf and rip currents across the U.S. East Coast this week.
Erin is located about 105 miles north, northeast of Grand Turk Island, with maximum sustained winds of 130 mph moving northwest at 13 mph, as of Monday morning.
Erin’s forecast to pass east of the southeastern Bahamas on Monday and move between Bermuda and the east Coast of the U.S. by the middle of the week.
Additional strengthening is expected on Monday as Hurricane Erin is forecast to “remain a large and dangerous major hurricane through the middle of this week,” the National Hurricane Center said in its 5 a.m. advisory.
A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for the Turks and Caicos Islands and the southeast Bahamas, and a tropical storm watch is in effect for the central Bahamas.
Erin is forecast to produce heavy rainfall across parts of Hispaniola on Monday and in the Turks and Caicos and portions of the southeast and Central Bahamas through Tuesday. Two to four inches, with locally higher amounts of 6 inches, are forecast.
All public services on the Turks and Caicos Islands are suspended on Monday as Erin draws near, and locals are urged to stay home, secure property, and have emergency supplies ready.
Erin will also generate swells that will impact the Bahamas, Bermuda, the eastern seaboard of the U.S., and Atlantic Canada over the next several days, which will likely cause life-threatening surf and rip currents.
While the East Coast will not sustain any direct impacts, the Outer Banks does have a 10-20% chance of having isolated wind gusts to tropical-storm force winds.
A state of emergency and mandatory evacuation order is in place for Ocracoke Island, located in North Carolina’s Outer Banks.
Officials warned that while Erin will remain off the coast, the storm will create coastal flooding that could “render Highway 12 impassable” for days, hindering emergency response operations.
A mandatory evacuation order was issued for visitors Sunday evening and for residents starting Tuesday morning.
A coastal flood watch was issued for Ocracoke, and coastal flooding and ocean overwash are expected to begin Tuesday through Thursday.
“Dangerous waves, 20+ feet, will likely inundate and destroy protective dune structures along the highway. Portions of Highway 12 on Ocracoke and Hatteras Islands will likely be impassable for several days. Life-threatening swimming and surfing conditions are expected,” the Hyde County Board of Commissioners said Sunday.
Erin, the first hurricane of this year’s Atlantic season, formed on Friday and pummeled the Caribbean as a Category 3 hurricane over the weekend.
It knocked out power to about 147,000 customers in Puerto Rico, according to Luma Energy. As of early Monday morning, 96.3% of customers have electricity service again, the island’s power company said.
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