RODANTE, N.C. (AP) — Hurricane Erin has brought significant flooding to parts of the main highway in North Carolina’s Outer Banks, accompanied by strong winds and waves that have crashed beneath beach homes as the storm begins to slowly move away from the East Coast on Thursday.
Forecasters expect the storm to peak on Thursday. There’s a possibility it could strengthen further, potentially reaching a Category 3 hurricane or higher. However, it’s not anticipated to make landfall along the eastern seaboard before it shifts further out to sea.
According to the National Hurricane Center in Miami, tropical storm conditions are currently affecting areas in the Outer Banks and along Virginia’s coast. Meanwhile, residents and visitors in Bermuda have been advised to evacuate due to rough seas expected by Friday.
This morning, the center noted flooding along parts of North Carolina and the mid-Atlantic coast. Authorities warned that significant swells during high tide might isolate villages and homes along the Outer Banks, creating a potentially life-threatening situation along the coastline from Florida to New England.
Big waves push water against the road
As Erin’s outer bands impacted the Outer Banks, water has begun flooding the main route that connects the barrier islands, affecting several beachside homes. By Wednesday evening, officials had to close Highway 12 on Hatteras Island due to rising waves, and the road remained closed Thursday, cutting off access to the Ocracoke Island ferry terminal.
Melin Daemonows, the property manager at Cape Hatteras Motel in Buxton, decided to ride out the storm and experienced severe damage, including torn-off doors and several washed-away heat pumps. “It’s the power behind the water,” she shared with WRAL-TV.
Further up the coast, many gathered to take photos of the towering waves clashing against structures while it rained. David Alan Harvey from Nags Head expressed his appreciation for the storm, saying, “This is her best nature. I love these storms.” He felt that standing on the jetty was safer than being on the roads, stating, “Driving my car is much more dangerous than this.”
Nearby, 23-year-old Daniel Irons from Hatteras was keenly observing what the storm might bring. Another man, Sebastian Ketner, was spending his time fishing.
No access beach along the coast
New York City closed its beaches to swimming on Wednesday and Thursday, with similar temporary closures in parts of New Jersey, Maryland, and Delaware. Coastal flooding is expected in Long Island and some low-lying neighborhoods in New York City.
Nantucket, just off the coast of Massachusetts, has witnessed waves exceeding 10 feet (3 meters) this week. However, the most imminent threat appears to still be along the Outer Banks, where long-time residents seemed surprisingly unfazed.
“I remember taking canoes from the front yard to school, so I don’t think that would be that bad,” noted Jacob Sloan, a Hatteras Island resident who works at a surf shop.
Despite warnings, some swimmers ignored the closures. Lifeguards rescued over 12 individuals caught in rip currents on Tuesday at Wrightsville Beach, following over 80 rescues the previous day.
Bob Olabeck from the National Weather Service emphasized that even those who believe they understand rip currents should not assume safety, stating, “You can know everything you want; that’s still dangerous.”
We predict that giant waves will cause coastal flooding
Officials in North Carolina have warned that a combination of intense winds and massive waves—expected to reach around 20 feet (6.1 meters) in many beachfront areas—could lead to significant coastal flooding. Weather forecasts on Thursday morning estimated waves measuring around 18 feet (5.5 meters).
Many beach homes, already at risk from ongoing erosion and weakened protective dunes, could face additional threats, said David Harak, director of Hatteras National Coast Cape.
Despite evacuation orders for Hatteras and Ocracoke islands, many locals opted to remain. Rob Temple, who runs yacht cruises at Ocracoke, mentioned, “If it comes directly to us, we probably won’t stay,” voicing concerns about the main routes being washed away, which could isolate both tourists and delivery trucks from the thin lowland islands.
The volunteer rescue teams from Hatteras Island reported no calls for assistance from Wednesday night to Thursday morning.
Erin remains a big hurricane as she heads towards the sea
Erin is characterized as an unusually large and potentially problematic system. Its strong tropical storm winds have been recorded over a span of 500 miles (800 km), a distance comparable to that between New York City and Pittsburgh.
The Hurricane Center noted that Erin was a Category 2 hurricane on Thursday morning, boasting sustained winds of 105 mph (165 kph). The storm was located 210 miles (338 km) east of Cape Hatteras, moving northeast at 17 miles (28 kph).
Interestingly, the Hurricane Center is also monitoring two tropical disturbances in the Atlantic. With extensive stretches of warm ocean water available, one system known as the Cape Verde storm poses significant risks to North America.
Climate scientists indicate that the likelihood of Atlantic hurricanes abruptly intensifying into severe storms, spurred by warmer waters, is increasing.
