Hurricane Erin Triggers Coastal Shutdowns Along East Coast, NYC Beaches Closed

Hurricane Erin, a Category 2 storm, has closed beaches along the U.S. East Coast and triggered flood warnings, especially in North Carolina’s Outer Banks. With massive waves and widespread rip currents, authorities urge caution as the storm nears. NYC and other coastal regions have restricted access amid rising storm intensity.

Hurricane Erin has prompted widespread beach closures and coastal flooding alerts along the U.S. East Coast as the powerful Category 2 storm moves closer to the mid-Atlantic region. With sustained winds nearing 110 mph, the storm’s outer bands began lashing North Carolina’s Outer Banks on Wednesday, causing road closures and surge-related disruptions.

Highway 12 on Hatteras Island was shut down by evening, and ferry services to Ocracoke Island were suspended due to flooding. Authorities warned that waves up to 20 feet and storm surges could isolate communities and damage already eroded beachfronts.

While Erin is not expected to make landfall, forecasters say its sheer size — with tropical-storm-force winds stretching over 500 miles — will continue to pose serious threats. Life-threatening rip currents and flooding are forecasted from Florida up to New England.

New York City preemptively closed all public beaches to swimming, with wave heights projected to reach 13 feet around Long Island. Massachusetts’ Nantucket Island could see waves over 10 feet, while New Jersey, Maryland, and Delaware have also restricted beach access.

Despite warnings, some swimmers ignored closures, leading to dozens of rescues in North Carolina. Emergency management officials urged residents not to underestimate the storm’s reach, especially given its potential for rapid intensification and the vulnerability of coastal infrastructure.

In Virginia Beach, surfers gathered for the East Coast Surfing Championships, taking advantage of Erin’s swells. However, the event will be paused Thursday as the hurricane nears the coast.

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The National Hurricane Center is also monitoring two additional tropical disturbances forming in the Atlantic. With warming ocean waters, meteorologists warn that the frequency of rapidly intensifying storms like Erin is rising due to climate change.