The storm has weakened but remains a threat, with forecasters warning of broader East Coast impacts after two counties declared states of emergency over the weekend.
The National Hurricane Center (NHC) reported that Hurricane Erin has weakened from its peak but remains a major threat. The storm is expected to bring heavy rainfall and flooding in the Caribbean, pose risks along the U.S. East Coast, and has already triggered emergency declarations in parts of North Carolina.
Hurricane Specialist Lissa Bucci at the National Hurricane Center in Miami monitors satellite imagery of Hurricane Erin as the storm develops in the Atlantic, August 13, 2025 |
Hurricane Erin, a Category 5 storm on Saturday, August 16, 2025, has weakened to Category 3 but remains powerful in the Atlantic. The NHC reported on August 17 that Erin carried sustained winds of 125 mph (205 km/h) while moving West to Northwest at 13 mph (20 km/h).
Jamie Rhome of the National Hurricane Center points to Hurricane Erin’s location and intensity during a live update, showing sustained winds of 125 mph, as posted on August 17, 2025 | Source: YouTube/nwsnhc
The storm is forecast to turn northward early this week while increasing in size and strength, and will remain a major hurricane through midweek.
Forecasters stressed that Erin’s hazards extend far beyond its center. Hurricane-force winds stretch outward 50 miles (85 km), while tropical-storm-force winds extend more than 200 miles (335 km). The NHC warned that the storm is likely to remain “large and dangerous.”
Heavy Rainfall and Tropical Storm Warnings
Erin’s outer bands are already delivering heavy rainfall. Puerto Rico is expected to receive an additional two to four inches through Monday. Turks and Caicos and the Eastern Bahamas, including San Salvador Island, could see up to six inches through Tuesday.
Powerful waves crash along La Pared beach in Luquillo, Puerto Rico, on August 16, 2025 | Source: Getty Images
The NHC cautioned that this rainfall could trigger flash flooding in urban areas and landslides or mudslides in mountainous terrain. Tropical Storm Warnings are in effect for the Turks and Caicos Islands and the Southeast Bahamas, where storm conditions are expected within 24 hours.
National Hurricane Center Deputy Director Jamie Rhome delivers a live briefing on Major Hurricane Erin, highlighting Tropical Storm Warnings in the Caribbean, on August 17, 2025 | Source: YouTube/nwsnhc
In addition to rainfall, Erin’s large wind field is generating swells across much of the region. The NHC noted that rough seas are affecting the Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, Hispaniola, and the Turks and Caicos, and will spread to the Bahamas, Bermuda, the East Coast of the United States, and Atlantic Canada in the coming days.
These swells are expected to produce dangerous surf and rip currents, making swimming and surfing hazardous. Minor coastal flooding is also possible in areas of onshore winds.
Potential Impacts Across the East Coast
While Erin is not expected to make landfall in the United States, its expanding size means coastal impacts will stretch for hundreds of miles. North Carolina and Virginia would reportedly face a moderate risk of rain and wind, while Florida and much of the East Coast face lower risks.
According to Newsweek, AccuWeather lead hurricane expert Alex DaSilva said, “At this time, impacts are expected to include dangerous surf, beach erosion and coastal flooding. However, conditions may worsen along the U.S. Atlantic coast, if Erin’s track shifts farther west.”
