Tourists Rush to Leave
Hurricane Erin has prompted visitors to cut short their trips on North Carolina’s Outer Banks, despite forecasts showing the storm will remain offshore. The hurricane hit parts of the Caribbean on Monday with heavy rain and strong winds.
Officials ordered evacuations on several barrier islands along the Carolina coast, warning that the storm could create dangerous rip currents and waves up to 15 feet (4.6 meters). On Ocracoke Island, residents and tourists waited for hours at the ferry dock — the only exit besides air travel.
Forecast and Track
Meteorologists expect Erin to veer northward, away from the U.S. East Coast. However, the storm is projected to intensify over the coming days, bringing high waves and tropical-strength winds to the coastal islands, said Dave Roberts of the U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami.
Current Status
Erin strengthened to a Category 4 hurricane on Monday, with maximum sustained winds of 140 mph (225 kph), affecting the Turks and Caicos Islands and the southeastern Bahamas. Authorities there suspended services on three islands and instructed residents to stay indoors.
By Monday afternoon, the storm was approximately 140 miles (220 kilometers) north of Grand Turk Island and about 850 miles (1,370 kilometers) southeast of Cape Hatteras.
Outer Banks Braces for Impact
Coastal flooding is expected to hit North Carolina’s Outer Banks from Tuesday through Thursday. Evacuations on Hatteras and Ocracoke Islands come during peak tourist season on these narrow, low-lying islands, which are increasingly at risk from storm surges.
Last year, Hurricane Ernesto remained far offshore from the U.S. East Coast but still caused high surf and coastal damage.
