Hurricane Erin prompts tropical storm, surge warnings for North Carolina coast

TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — Dangerous rip currents are expected along the U.S. East Coast as Hurricane Erin grows in size this week, the National Hurricane Center said Tuesday.

As of the NHC’s 11 a.m. update, the storm is located about 650 miles southwest of Bermuda, and is moving toward the northwest at about 7 mph.

Its maximum sustained winds are 105 mph, with higher gusts.

According to the NHC, the center of Erin will pass to the east of the Bahamas on Tuesday before moving between the U.S. East Coast and Bermuda on Wednesday and Thursday.

Erin’s core will remain offshore of the U.S., but its massive size means impacts will be felt far from the center. The storm poses a risk of dangerous wave heights and rip currents along the Atlantic coast.

A Storm Surge Warning is in effect for:

• Cape Lookout to Duck, North Carolina

A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for:

• Turks and Caicos Islands
• Southeast Bahamas
• Beaufort Inlet to Duck, North Carolina

A Tropical Storm Watch is in effect for:

• Central Bahamas
• North of Duck, North Carolina to Cape Charles Light, Virginia

Tracking two tropical waves

A tropical depression could form toward the end of the week as a tropical wave – shown above in orange – over the central tropical Atlantic continues to produce rain and thunderstorms. The system is expected to move westward to west-northwestward at about 20 mph across the central tropical Atlantic and approach the area of the Leeward Islands on Friday, the NHC said.

The chance of formation in the next 48 hours is 10 percent, while the chance of formation in the next seven days is 60 percent.

A second tropical wave, located a few hundred miles to the southeast of the Cabo Verde Islands, is producing an area of showers and thunderstorms. According to the NHC, environmental conditions are generally favorable for additional development over the next couple of days as the system moves westward at about 15 mph.

By the end of the week, the system could encounter a less favorable environment, limiting the chances for development.

The chance of formation in the next 48 hours and over the next seven days is 30 percent.