NATIONAL NEWS – Hurricane Erin expected to triple in size and threaten the U.S. East Coast, including North Carolina

Ananya Roy, News Writer

Hurricane Erin continues to grow in size and strength, bringing heavy rain, strong winds, and life-threatening rip currents to islands and coastal communities far from its center. Puerto Rico and parts of the Bahamas and Turks and Caicos Islands have already experienced flash flooding and power outages. On the U.S. East Coast, North Carolina’s Outer Banks, including Hatteras and Ocracoke islands, are under mandatory evacuation orders as waves exceeding 20 feet and extensive beach erosion threaten homes and infrastructure. Officials caution that even sunny conditions will not reduce the risk of deadly rip currents, urging residents and tourists to avoid the water through midweek.

Erin is forecast to remain offshore while moving north-northeast between the U.S. East Coast and Bermuda, maintaining major hurricane strength through at least midweek. Despite the lack of landfall, the storm’s broad influence is causing dangerous surf, flooding during high tides, and coastal erosion. Past hurricanes have collapsed homes along the Outer Banks, and experts warn more structures could be at risk this week. With summer beachgoers still visiting the coast, authorities emphasize that this is not a safe time for ocean activities.