Hurricane Erin pounds the Eastern Seaboard with high surf

Pounding surf from Hurricane Erin inundates homes in Buxton, North Carolina along the coast of Hatteras Island on the Outer Banks. Despite being over 300 kilometres form the coast, Erin has produced significant flooding and some structural damage. (WTKR)

Category 2 Hurricane Erin was located 340km east of Cape Hatteras early Thursday morning, with 165km/h (105mph) winds and a central pressure of 945mb. The large and powerful storm sent towering waves crashing into coastlines from the Carolinas to Nova Scotia, producing coastal flooding and dangerous rip currents. Mandatory evacuations were in place for Hatteras and Ocracoke Islands on the Outer Banks of North Carolina, where State Highway 12 was closed due to ocean over wash and significant flooding over several high tide cycles. Some structures have already been damaged. 

Erin is a large storm, stretching over 1200 kilometres in  diameter, with hurricane force winds extending outward165km from the centre, and tropical storm force winds an incredible 520km from the eye.

On Thursday morning, Erin was located 340 kilometres to the east of Cape Hatteras. The storm was forecast to race off to the northeast today passing south of Atlantic Canada on Friday. Heavy surf is forecast from the Carolina's to Newfoundland for the next 36-48 hours. (Windy.com)

For those of you who frequently read my blog, you are aware of my passion for the Outer Banks. I had been vacationing their since 1991. During my last trip in 2018, I sat under Jennette's Pier in Nags Head, with my dog Bella. It was her last trip. Our time their was spectacular. Today, the Pier is reporting a wind gust to 87km/h, with a 2 to 4 foot surge and towering waves. Not an ideal beach day to say the least.

Erin will continue to produce coastal flooding along the Outer Banks, spreading north into Virginia and the Middle Atlantic States. Later today, gusty winds and heavy surf will move into the Northeast and New England including Long Island and Cape Cod. 

Earlier this week, Hurricane Erin produced heavy rain and flooding in Puerto Rico. At the time, Erin was a powerful category 5 storm, with winds in excess of 160mph. (Unknown Facts)

The heavy wave action will begin to impact the south facing coast of Nova Scotia and Newfoundland Friday and into the upcoming weekend before Erin races off to the northeast. Winds may gust to 70km/h along the Nova Scotia coast late Friday and Saturday. Gale to storm force winds are expected in the offshore marine waters of Newfoundland, with seas building to 8 to 10 metres (26-33 feet) by Saturday.

The tropical Atlantic will continue to remain active, with the National Hurricane Centre watching two more areas for development as we head into the peak part of the season.