Hurricane Erin – evacuations, high waves and dozens of drownings

Although it moves mainly over the ocean, hurricane Erin has been causing a lot of excitement in the United States since last week. The storm is currently located off the coast of North Carolina and has already earned the title of one of the fastest-developing hurricanes in Atlantic history. Increasingly, discussions are emerging about whether Europeans will also feel the effects of the hurricane and when this might happen.

Tropical rollercoaster

Hurricane Erin formed on August 11 off the western coast of Africa, from where it moved toward the Caribbean. Last Friday, it dramatically intensified – according to NASA experts, it grew from a category 1 to a category 5 hurricane within 24 hours, with wind speeds reaching 260 km/h. It is the first hurricane of this magnitude this season and a record-holder in terms of development speed. Bob Henson, a meteorologist from Yale Climate Connections, explains that a weak wind shear, a compact storm structure, and exceptionally high sea surface temperatures contributed to this rapid intensification.

As part of the so-called eyewall replacement cycle typical for strong cyclones, Erin weakened to category 3 before strengthening again. Fortunately, its path has so far completely avoided land, but accompanying winds of 215 km/h cut power to nearly 150,000 residents of Puerto Rico.

North Carolina on alert

Hurricane Erin is currently classified as a category 2 storm and is located about 320 km southeast of Cape Hatteras, off the coast of North Carolina. Meteorologists from the National Weather Service (NWS) emphasize its exceptionally large reach – strong winds are observed more than 480 km from the cyclone’s eye and are causing unusually intense ocean currents and waves exceeding 6 m in height.

CNN reports that two counties in North Carolina have declared a state of emergency and ordered mandatory evacuation of residents from Hatteras and Ocracoke islands. Access to the beach in Corolla is also prohibited, and double red flags have been raised on all Outer Banks beaches. NWS warns that sea levels have risen significantly, putting the coast at risk of flooding and severe erosion.

Since the beginning of the week, rescuers in North Carolina have pulled more than 70 people from the ocean who, despite warnings, decided to attempt swimming or surfing. Sam Proffitt, who leads the rescue operations at Wrightsville Beach, says that the volume of water is so large and the currents so strong that they can carry away 6–8 people at once. It doesn’t matter how good a swimmer you are, he adds.

A ban on entering the water has already been issued for beaches in states located along the northern part of the eastern seaboard: New York, New Jersey, Delaware, Massachusetts, and Maryland. The threat is expected to persist at least until Friday, with winds forecasted to weaken significantly by Saturday.

Will Hurricane Erin affect Europe?

In recent days, speculation has appeared in the media regarding the potential effects that powerful hurricane Erin could have on the western coast of Europe. In a statement issued yesterday, the UK meteorological service Met Office explained that remnants of the hurricane could be transported back across the Atlantic via the jet stream. According to this scenario, the tropical depression could reach the coasts of Scotland next Tuesday or Wednesday. Although it will no longer be a hurricane, strong winds accompanying the storm could cause significant damage. Met Office encourages everyone in the British Isles to follow weather updates regularly.

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main photo: NASA Earth Observatory