Perhaps it will come a bit closer to the US than previously thought. Even if it stays a considerable distance from the US, it could/will cause problems for the Coastal areas of the Carolinas and Virginia.
NC coast state of emergency, evacuation of OBX islands ordered; Hurricane Erin ‘life-threatening impacts’ likely Officials at the North Carolina coast on Sunday declared a state of emergency in Dare County and Hyde County and ordered an evacuation of Hatteras Island and Ocracoke Island at the Outer Banks, ahead of expected flooding from Hurricane Erin. Already Sunday, the National Weather Service issued a coastal flood watch for the Outer Banks starting Tuesday with breaking waves from 15 to 20+ feet. “Portions of N.C. 12 on Hatteras Island will likely be impassable for several days,” Dare County Emergency Management officials said in the state of emergency late Sunday afternoon. The Hyde County Board of Commissioners on Sunday evening issued a State of Emergency for Ocracoke Island. Dare County and Hyde County leaders said that “life-threatening impacts” are expected along the coast from Hurricane Erin. Sun day evening Hurricane Erin update - Aug. 17 “Coastal flooding and ocean overwash are expected to begin as early as Tuesday and continue through Thursday,” Dare County officials said. County officials warned that “now is the time to make final preparations, secure property, (and) evacuate with all personal belongings.” RELATED: ‘Significant threat to life’: Hurricane Erin spurs NC coast flood watch, surf advisory; 20+ ft OBX wave risk Flooding, high surf overwash at Outer Banks on NC coast The National Weather Service in Morehead City said the coastal flood watch is in effect from Tuesday afternoon through Thursday night in Carteret, Onslow counties, the northern Outer Banks, Ocracoke Island and Hatteras Island. A high surf advisory is active from noon Tuesday to 8 a.m. Friday for the same areas at the North Carolina coast, the weather service said. The Ocracoke Island evacuation for visitors is Sunday night, while residents must evacuate starting at 6 a.m. Tuesday, Hyde County officials said. Dare County and Hyde County leaders said that “life-threatening impacts” are expected along the coast from Hurricane Erin. “Coastal flooding and ocean overwash are expected to begin as early as Tuesday and continue through Thursday,” Dare County officials said. County officials warned that “now is the time to make final preparations, secure property, (and) evacuate with all personal belongings.” The National Weather Service said coastal and beach flooding from Hurricane Erin is a “significant threat to life and property.” Flooding of “many” homes and businesses is likely and numerous roads will be impassible, forecasters said. The National Weather Service in Morehead City said the coastal flood watch is in effect from Tuesday afternoon through Thursday night in Carteret, Onslow counties, the northern Outer Banks, Ocracoke Island and Hatteras Island. A high surf advisory is active from noon Tuesday to 8 a.m. Friday for the same areas at the North Carolina coast, the weather service said. The Ocracoke Island evacuation for visitors is Sunday night, while residents must evacuate starting at 6 a.m. Tuesday, Hyde County officials said. “It is extremely likely that Hyde County EMS services will not be available in Ocracoke due to Highway 12 being inaccessible,” Hyde County officials said. A Mandatory Evacuation has been issued for Hatteras Island (Zone A) as follows. (Zone A includes all of Hatteras Island, including the unincorporated villages of Rodanthe, Waves, Salvo, Avon, Buxton, Frisco, and Hatteras.) Hatteras Island Mandatory Visitor Evacuation (Zone A): All visitors in Hurricane Evacuation Zone A must evacuate beginning at 10 a.m. on Monday, August 18. Hatteras Island Mandatory Resident Evacuation (Zone A): All residents in Hurricane Evacuation Zone A must evacuate beginning at 8 a.m. on Tuesday, August 19. “Extreme beach and coastal damage is likely along the oceanside, resulting in a significant threat to life and property. Large dangerous waves will likely inundate and destroy protective dune structures,” the Morehead City office of the National Weather Service said Sunday about the impacts from Hurricane Erin. Officials said people evacuating to areas north of Dare County are encouraged to travel westbound on U.S. 64 to Interstate 95. “Evacuating through the rural areas to the west of Dare County will help avoid traffic backups and congestion that may prolong evacuation by traveling northbound through the Hampton Roads portion of Virginia,” Dare County officials said. The state of emergency will go into effect at 6 p.m. Sunday for all areas of Dare County, officials said.
State of Emergency Issued for Dare County - Mandatory Evacuation Issued for Hatteras Island Local State of Emergency Issued for All Areas of Dare County; Mandatory Evacuation Order Issued for Hatteras Island. Dare County’s Senior Leaders gathered this afternoon (Sunday, August 17, 2025) to receive a briefing from the National Weather Service (NWS) office in Newport/Morehead City, N.C. While Hurricane Erin is expected to stay well off our coast, the system will continue to increase in size and is forecast to bring life-threatening impacts to the Dare County coastline. A Coastal Flood Watch has already been issued for Dare County. Coastal flooding and ocean overwash are expected to begin as early as Tuesday, August 19, 2025 and continue through Thursday, August 21, 2025. Portions of N.C. Highway 12 on Hatteras Island will likely be impassable for several days. A State of Emergency declaration has been issued for all areas of Dare County, effective on Sunday, August 17, 2025 at 6:00 p.m. A Mandatory Evacuation has been issued for Hatteras Island (Zone A)as follows. (Zone A includes all of Hatteras Island, including the unincorporated villages of Rodanthe, Waves, Salvo, Avon, Buxton, Frisco, and Hatteras.)* Hatteras Island Mandatory Visitor Evacuation (Zone A): All visitors in Hurricane Evacuation Zone A must evacuate beginning at 10:00 a.m. on Monday, August 18, 2025. Hatteras Island Mandatory Resident Evacuation (Zone A): All residents in Hurricane Evacuation Zone A must evacuate beginning at 8:00 a.m. on Tuesday, August 19, 2025. Now is the time to make final preparations, secure property, evacuate with all personal belongings and follow instructions from your property management company. *§ 42A-36. Mandatory evacuations: If State or local authorities, acting pursuant to Article 1A of Chapter 166A of the General Statutes, order a mandatory evacuation of an area that includes the residential property subject to a vacation rental, the tenant under the vacation rental agreement, whether in possession of the property or not, shall comply with the evacuation order. Evacuation Routes: Those who are evacuating to areas north of Dare County are encouraged to travel westbound on Highway 64 to Interstate 95. Evacuating through the rural areas to the west of Dare County will help avoid traffic backups and congestion that may prolong evacuation by traveling northbound through the Hampton Roads portion of Virginia. For more information about Dare County’s two evacuation routes, please visit www.DareNC.gov/Evacuation. Anticipated Impacts: The National Weather Service at Newport/Morehead City, N.C. has indicated that coastal flooding may begin with the evening high tide on Tuesday, August 19, 2025. The Coastal Flood Watch indicates that extreme beach and coastal damage is likely along the oceanside, resulting in a significant threat to life and property. Large dangerous waves will likely inundate and destroy protective dune structures. Severe flooding will likely extend inland where there is vulnerable or no protective dune structure flooding homes and businesses with some structural damage possible. Roads will likely be impassable under several feet of water and vehicles will likely be submerged. The High Surf Advisory indicates large breaking waves of 15-20-plus feet should be expected in the surf zone. Life-threatening swimming and surfing conditions expected, as well as wave action resulting in significant beach erosion. To view the latest weather briefing from the National Weather Service at Newport/Morehead City, N.C., please click the button below. View the Latest Briefing from the National Weather Service Swimming Prohibition (Countywide): Life-threatening rip currents are expected throughout much of the week. The surf will be extremely hazardous due to large breaking waves, with the most dangerous conditions expected Wednesday, August 20, 2025, into Thursday, August 21, 2025. Due to life-threatening ocean conditions, no one may enter the waters of the Atlantic Ocean anywhere in Dare County when double red flags are posted by Ocean Rescue agencies. This includes swimming with or without flotation devices, rafts, or other aids. Surfing Exception: Entry with a surfboard is permitted. A surfboard is defined as a fiberglass and foam combination at least five feet in length, having a minimum of one fin, and used in conjunction with a leash. ______________________________________ ______________________________________ When there is something going on in the Gulf and Galveston is clearing beaches of things that could float off or become projectiles, the TV news crews on the scene will also show some folks surfing because of the extra action in the water. I realize that there will always be Nut Jobs that will take significant risks, but what is the upper limit for most Surfers when it comes to deciding to go in or stay out of water being pushed around by a storm?
