2 PM Erin Update: Erin is moving away from NC

As Hurricane Erin’s track continues to drift off the NC coast Thursday, we’ve made today a First Alert Weather Day for large waves and coastal flooding.

As of Thursday afternoon, Erin’s winds remain at 100 mph, keeping it a Category 2 hurricane. Erin’s center was located 250 miles east of Cape Hatteras. Erin is now tracking away from the U.S. The storm is continuing to move 18 mph to the NE. The storm is expected to be offshore of Canada by Friday as a Category 1 with winds around 85 mph.

All beaches are expected to have red flags the rest of the week. Beaches may disappear under waves as the wind and waves pick up.

Tropical Storm Warnings are active for the Outer Banks, Down East Carteret, Dare County, the Sounds, and the Alligator River.

What does it mean for the U.S. and Eastern NC?

As Erin tracks off the North Carolina coast today, winds and waves peaked early in the morning. With a more offshore track, winds should start to die down by this evening. Gusts will stay the strongest the longest for the Outer Banks and parts of the Pamlico Sound.

High tide this could bring similar or slightly higher water levels than on Wednesday. The worst storm surge will be across the Outer Banks at 2-4 feet. Water levels could be higher where dunes are weaker. Only a foot to three feet of coastal flooding is expected across the Sounds and rivers of ENC. The Crystal Coast could also see up to 3 feet of coastal flooding, especially on Topsail Island.

Three areas need to be monitored as more tropical waves cross the Atlantic. A tropical depression could form this weekend as the first wave tracks north of the Antilles Islands. It will turn north faster than Erin did. The second disturbance has a lower chance of development, but it should still be monitored. The next names on the hurricane list are Fernand, Gabrielle, and Humberto.

Stay tuned for updates as things can change quickly in the tropics. For now, this is a reminder that we’re moving deeper into the heart of the Atlantic hurricane season, the time of year when storms form more frequently.

For more tropical updates on the 2025 hurricane season, download the free WITN First Alert Weather App, available in both the Apple App Store and Google Play Store. It’s the fastest way to get the latest advisories, track storms in real-time, and receive any warnings issued for your area.