Outer Banks Endures Flooding as Hurricane Erin Moves Offshore
Outer Banks Endures Flooding as Hurricane Erin Moves Offshore
Hurricane Erin, a powerful Category 2 storm, is now accelerating northeastward away from the U.S. East Coast, but its significant impact continues to be felt, especially across North Carolina’s vulnerable Outer Banks. The storm, which packed sustained winds of nearly 100 miles per hour, brought widespread coastal flooding, dangerous rip currents, and storm surge to the region on Thursday, with lingering effects expected today.
As Erin’s western edge grazed North Carolina, it caused extreme ocean overwash, leading to the breach of protective sand dunes and cutting off Highway 12, the primary road connecting Ocracoke and Hatteras islands to the mainland. While more than 2,000 people had heeded evacuation orders for these islands, reports from areas like Buxton and Hatteras Village describe inundated roads and structural damage, including ripped-out walls and disappeared sand barriers. The National Weather Service warned of an ongoing storm surge up to 4 feet high through Thursday night.
Despite not making direct landfall, forecasters noted Erin’s unusual size, with tropical-storm-force winds extending over a 600-mile diameter, contributing to its widespread coastal impact. A high potential for life-threatening rip currents remains for beaches along the entire East Coast from Florida to Maine today, Friday. The National Hurricane Center forecasts Erin to continue weakening over the next two days, expecting it to dissipate below tropical storm strength by Saturday as it moves over the western Atlantic.
Disclaimer: This content is aggregated from public sources online. Please verify information independently. If you believe your rights have been infringed, contact us for removal.