Hurricane Erin Strengthens Again | Outer Banks & NC Coast on Alert

·11 min·1 clip

Hurricane Erin, a Category 3 storm with 125 mph winds, is curving toward the Carolina coastline, putting the Outer Banks on alert.

The episode opens with meteorologist Frank Strait introducing Hurricane Erin, currently a Category 3 hurricane with 125 mph winds located north of the Dominican Republic. He presents the National Hurricane Center's track, showing Erin curving northwest, passing between Hatteras and Bermuda, then northeast into the Atlantic. Strait notes Erin is likely to strengthen to Category 4 before weakening over cooler waters, but will grow in size. He emphasizes that despite passing offshore, the Outer Banks may experience gusty winds. Using the National Hurricane Center's forecast, he details Erin maintaining major hurricane strength through Wednesday, weakening below that by Thursday, but remaining a hurricane through Friday as it passes southeast of Nova Scotia. Strait then discusses coastal impacts, highlighting that tropical storm force winds could reach the Outer Banks, based on the HurriVac model used by emergency managers, with the closest approach at 2 a.m. Thursday. He shifts to wave impacts, showing the GFS wave model predicting 10-18 foot waves along the North Carolina coast, especially the Outer Banks, from Wednesday into Thursday, with dangerous surf and rip currents. Small craft advisories are expected Tuesday through Friday due to rough seas. Strait advises against surfing due to the powerful waves and onshore winds. He explains that combined with rising astronomical tides, the waves could cause significant beach erosion and overwash, leading to evacuation orders for Hatteras Island over concerns about NC-12 being eroded and communities cut off. The episode ends with a tropical weather outlook, noting a low-pressure system with no development threat and a tropical wave west of Cabo Verde with a 40% chance of development. This system, which could be named Fernand, might head toward the U.S. in 7-10 days, though it's too early for certainty. Strait signs off, summarizing the update.

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