Hurricane Erin restrengthens to category 4 as evacuations begin in North Carolina
- Hurricane Erin escalated in intensity, first becoming a Category 5 storm and then fluctuating back to Category 4.
- As the storm approached the U.S. East Coast, North Carolina officials issued states of emergency and mandatory evacuations.
- Despite predictions of staying offshore, residents in affected areas were urged to take precautions due to possible hazardous conditions.
In August 2025, Hurricane Erin, the first major hurricane of the Atlantic season, rapidly intensified, starting as a Category 1 storm and reaching Category 5 within a day. By that time, it had max sustained winds of 160 mph, causing significant damage in the Caribbean region, including Puerto Rico where over 150,000 residents experienced power outages. As it progressed, Erin fluctuated in intensity, initially downgraded to a Category 3 before restrengthening to a Category 4, leading to warnings and states of emergency in North Carolina. Officials in Dare County, North Carolina, responded to the increased threat from Hurricane Erin by declaring a state of emergency and issuing mandatory evacuation orders for Hatteras Island and surrounding areas. The evacuation was enforced due to concerns about the storm's potential impact, including dangerous surf, powerful winds, and the risk of flooding. The government urged residents and visitors to secure their properties and follow evacuation instructions without delay. The decision to evacuate was taken to ensure public safety as forecasts indicated that Erin could directly affect the state by passing nearby. The storm's growth also raised alarms about the potential for extensive surf-related hazards along the East Coast. This impact extended from Florida through New England, prompting a tropical storm watch for various regions in the Bahamas and the Caribbean. Meteorologists predicted that Erin's expansive wind field and intense rainfall could yield large ocean swells, which would contribute to severe rip currents at beaches. Coastal areas were warned to brace for heavy surf, which could lead to life-threatening conditions for beachgoers and residents in low-lying regions. As of the latest updates, Hurricane Erin was approximately 915 miles southeast of Cape Hatteras and was expected to continue moving in such a way that could increase its size and intensity. Despite forecasts suggesting the storm might stay offshore, the unpredictability of hurricane development remained a cause for concern. Meteorologists emphasized that fluctuations in Erin's path depended on the surrounding atmospheric conditions, including high-pressure systems and the alignment of the jet stream that would affect its trajectory and interactions with land.