Hurricane Erin has compelled thousands of tourists and residents to abandon their plans and seek safety along North Carolina’s Outer Banks, even though forecasters expect the massive storm to remain offshore after battering parts of the Caribbean with torrential rain and fierce winds on Monday.
Local authorities ordered mandatory evacuations on several of the state’s fragile barrier islands, warning that Erin’s immense power could generate perilous rip currents, 15-foot (4.6-meter) waves, and widespread coastal flooding. Tropical storm and surge watches were issued for most of the Outer Banks, raising alarm during what is typically the peak of the summer tourist season.
At Wrightsville Beach, near Wilmington, rescue teams reported pulling more than 60 swimmers from powerful rip currents on Monday, underscoring the immediate dangers already surfacing along the Carolina coast. Lines of cars stretched for hours at Ocracoke Island’s ferry dock — the island’s only exit besides air travel — as anxious visitors and locals rushed to comply with evacuation orders.
“We definitely thought twice,” said Seth Brotherton of Catfish, North Carolina, who was forced to end his weeklong fishing trip after just two days. “But when they say ‘mandatory,’ that pretty much means you need to get out of here.”
Although meteorologists remain confident Erin will turn northward and avoid a direct strike on the U.S. mainland, the National Hurricane Center cautioned that the storm will still lash coastal areas with high surf, dangerous winds, and unpredictable flooding.
By Monday, Erin had intensified into a Category 4 hurricane with sustained winds of 140 mph (225 kph), slamming the Turks and Caicos Islands and parts of the southeast Bahamas. Later that evening, winds eased slightly to 130 mph (210 kph), with the storm positioned roughly 695 miles (1,120 kilometers) southwest of Bermuda and 805 miles (1,290 kilometers) southeast of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina. In the Caribbean, government officials shut down services on three islands, ordered residents to stay indoors, and closed several ports.
Along the Outer Banks, flooding is forecast to worsen from Tuesday through Thursday. Mandatory evacuations began on both Hatteras Island and Ocracoke Island on Monday, sending shockwaves through businesses and families at the height of tourist season. The region, a thin ribbon of land that juts precariously into the Atlantic, remains particularly vulnerable to storm surges and washed-out roads.
Only last year, Hurricane Ernesto remained hundreds of miles offshore but still caused destructive swells and severe erosion along the coast. This time, forecasters warn that several consecutive days of pounding surf and wind could severely damage Highway 12 — the main artery linking the Outer Banks — leaving some areas inaccessible for days.
For Ocracoke Island, this marks the first evacuation since Hurricane Dorian in 2019, which left behind the most catastrophic damage in the island’s recorded history. Residents, though resilient, remain wary. Tommy Hutcherson, owner of the island’s only grocery store, expressed cautious optimism. “I don’t think it’ll be as destructive,” he said. “But you never know. I felt the same way about Dorian, and we really got smacked.”
Experts increasingly point to climate change as a factor fueling the rapid intensification of Atlantic hurricanes. Rising ocean temperatures and a warmer atmosphere that retains more water vapor provide storms with the energy to strengthen quickly and unleash heavier rainfall.
For many residents, Erin’s threat presents difficult choices. Daniel Pullen, a professional photographer from Hatteras Island, has already lost three days of work due to canceled portrait sessions. He says he is reluctant to leave, fearing that if Highway 12 washes out, he could be stranded away from home for weeks.
“It’s a bit like Russian roulette,” Pullen explained. “Do you stay and risk the storm hitting? Or do you leave and risk being stuck off the island for weeks? Most residents can’t afford to stay in hotels for that long.”
Erin had briefly reached Category 5 status over the weekend with winds topping 160 mph (260 kph), the strongest hurricane of the Atlantic season so far. Though it has weakened slightly, meteorologists expect it to remain a large and dangerous storm through midweek.
Richard Pasch of the National Hurricane Center emphasized the uncertainty of hurricane dynamics. “You’re dealing with a major hurricane. The intensity fluctuates, but in any scenario, this is a dangerous storm.”
Bermuda now faces the gravest threat, with forecasters predicting seas swelling up to 24 feet (7.3 meters) by Thursday evening. Authorities there have urged residents and visitors to stay away from the water. “Surfers, swimmers and boaters must resist the temptation to go out. The waters will be very dangerous and lives will be placed at risk,” warned Acting Minister of National Security Jache Adams.
Meanwhile, Erin’s outer rain bands have already swept over Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, delivering heavy downpours and tropical-storm-force winds that knocked out power for thousands.
As Erin continues its northward journey, officials across the Atlantic and coastal U.S. brace for several days of uncertainty, volatile weather, and the possibility of devastating storm surges.
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