Swimmers are warned to avoid East Coast beaches as Hurricane Erin moves north
Federal forecasters are warning people to avoid beaches along the East Coast as Hurricane Erin moves north and slams much of the shoreline with dangerous waves and other severe weather.
Though the massive storm was roughly 365 miles from Cape Hatteras, N.C., as of 11 a.m. ET, the effects of Erin will be felt onshore starting Wednesday, with strong winds and the potential for flooding in the forecast for North Carolina and Virginia and life-threatening rip currents expected in several states.
“Beachgoers are urged to follow information from lifeguards, local authorities, and beach warning flags,” the National Hurricane Center said in a post on X. “The best advice? Stay out of the water!”
Mandatory evacuations are in place for parts of North Carolina’s Outer Banks, which was set to face inclement conditions starting later on Wednesday. North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein has declared a state of emergency.
A storm surge warning was in effect from Cape Lookout to Duck. Areas of North Carolina and Virginia were also under tropical storm warnings and watches. Bermuda was facing a tropical storm watch, too.
Forecasters noted that the significant size of Erin, which is hurling tropical storm-force winds as far as 265 miles from its center, means its effects could be felt far away.
Among those effects are swells and rip currents predicted for beaches along the East Coast as well as in Atlantic Canada, the Bahamas and Bermuda. “These rough ocean conditions are expected to cause life-threatening surf and rip currents,” the National Hurricane Center (NHC) said.
Rip currents are “powerful, narrow channels of fast-moving water” that can endanger swimmers who try to rush back to shore, according to the National Ocean Service. The agency recommends that swimmers caught in a rip current try to move parallel to the coastline and swim at an angle back to shore.
An NHC map showed a high risk of rip currents on Wednesday for a large stretch of the East Coast, from Florida to Massachusetts.
Forecasters said Erin could strengthen over the next day and should weaken by Friday, though it will likely still be a hurricane into the weekend.
Pope Leo’s religious community is drawing renewed interest. Here’s what makes it unique
"Before, we might get two or three discerners. But after Pope Leo, I now have 15. It's unbelievable."
The CDC still hasn’t issued COVID vaccine guidelines, leaving access in limbo
Access to the COVID-19 vaccines remains difficult because of an unusual and unexplained delay by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in accepting recommendations from its advisers.
National Guard presence may deter crime, but experts warn of the long-term costs
As President Trump ramps up efforts to send federal officers and troops into cities, criminologists are watching closely. Are the feds doing this in a smart way?
Coalition raises concerns surrounding manufacturer’s environmental, labor practices in small Alabama town
The report from the Good Neighbors Alabama coalition concerns the Neptune Technology Group plant in Tallassee.
AI designs for dangerous DNA can slip past biosecurity measures, study shows
Companies that make DNA for science labs screen out any requests for dangerous bits of genetic material. But a new study shows how AI could help malevolent actors get the stuff anyway.
Taylor Swift, George Orwell and Dwayne Johnson are in movie theaters. Take your pick
In cineplexes this weekend, Dwayne Johnson plays UFC fighter Mark Kerr, while Taylor Swift debuts a new music video. A new documentary pairs real-world footage with George Orwell's prescient words.
