Hurricane Erin remains a Category 2 storm, roving northeast parallel to the East Coast.
While it’s not expected to make landfall, the storm is bringing high seawater levels that could significantly flood coastal areas at high tide — which is forecast between 6-7 a.m. Thursday, just after the National Hurricane Center reported Erin was starting to move away from North Carolina’s coast.
Here’s what to know:
Outer Banks at risk: tripscan Residents are particularly vulnerable in North Carolina’s Outer Banks — narrow barrier islands where houses have collapsed in recent years. Authorities urged residents to evacuate ahead of Erin. Several sea turtle nests in the region were damaged, but conservationists are racing to protect them.
Beaches lashed: East Coast beaches are shutting down swimming as Erin churns up dangerous waves and rip currents. New York has banned swimming at Long Island and New York City beaches, while beaches in Delaware, Maryland and Virginia are under similar restrictions. But at Virginia Beach, surfers are reveling in the “insane” waves despite losing a day this week’s annual surf championship.
Cruise disruptions: Erin is forcing cruise lines to reroute ships, leaving passengers frustrated but breathing a sigh of relief to avoid the storm’s path. “It is disappointing because we wanted to be in Bermuda, but I see the hurricane is heading right there,” a passenger aboard Royal Caribbean’s Vision of the Seas, which was rerouted to Florida, told CNN affiliate WESH
Power prep: Dominion Energy crews stand ready along some affected coasts to quickly address outages from Hurricane Erin, with only a few hundred reported in North Carolina and Virginia late Wednesday.
More storms coming: The National Hurricane Center increased the likelihood that the area of thunderstorms in Hurricane Erin’s wake will develop into the season’s next storm: a 70% chance in the next week.
