Hurricane Erin Now a Category 5 Monster as it Moves Through the Caribbean

The latest update from the National Hurricane Center (NHC) is in, detailing that Hurricane 5 is now a major Category 5 storm. Here is the latest on this intensifying storm as it moves closer to the U.S.

Hurricane Erin Reaches Status of Category 5 Storm

Hurricane Erin has exploded into a Category 5 monster. As of the Saturday update from the NHC, Hurricane Erin is packing maximum sustained winds of 160 mph as it moves to the west at a clip of 17 mph. Erin is forecast to continue to feed on the bathwater warm ocean water temperatures in the Caribbean.

The latest spaghetti models indicate that Erin will take a journey between Bermuda and the U.S. Atlantic Seaboard next week. While the storm is not expected to make a direct landfall in any of these populated areas, rough seas and dangerous surf conditions and rip currents will impact the coastline.

Erin became a hurricane late Friday morning, making it the first storm of this designation in the Atlantic basin this season. Favorable environmental conditions will continue to fuel Erin's growth and strengthening over the weekend. Not only are the ocean waters exceptionally warm on the surface, but this heat extends hundreds of feet deep. Little to no wind shear will also work to support the future development of Erin.

Forecasters have been watching the future track of Erin for days, warning that a slow turn to the north will result in a higher chance of meaningful impacts to the U.S. The current models signal that Erin will be slow to make this turn, giving it more time to feed on the warm ocean waters in this part of the Caribbean.

While it is highly unlikely that the U.S. will sustain a direct hit from Erin, the size of this storm means that the large swells and rough seas will extend hundreds of miles from the eye. The position and power of an area of high pressure located in the Atlantic will pair with a southward dip in the jet stream to determine when Erin makes its turn away from the U.S.

What Impacts the U.S. Should Expect

The areas of the U.S. that jut out from the coast will be the most at risk of experiencing significant impacts. This includes places such as the Outer Banks of North Carolina and Cape Cod, Massachusetts.

Even in the absence of heavy rain, a storm surge of several feet could work with high waves to cause beach erosion and coastal flooding. Overwash is also a good possibility in coastal roads such as NC 12 that traverses through the Outer Banks. Coastal portions of Bermuda and Atlantic Canada will also be in the crosshairs of the beach impacts.

Beachgoers along the U.S. East Coast will want to be intentional about only swimming in areas staffed with lifeguards next week. Dangerous rip currents may lead to posted warnings at times.

Cruise ships may also need to alter their routes in the days ahead. Wave heights could reach as high as 50 feet offshore, churning up the seas in the process. The large waves will extend outward, hitting the coastal U.S. as strong breakers of 5 to 10 feet. The protruding areas of the coastline will see the breakers hit heights of 10 to 15 feet.

The waves will be even higher in Bermuda. Depending on how close Erin gets, you can expect waves to reach 15 to 25 feet. High winds will also be an issue in Bermuda, forecast to range between 40 to 60 mph when Erin makes its closest approach. Erin is also expected to deliver 2 to 4 inches of rain across Bermuda.

The bottom line is that all interests throughout the northern Caribbean, Bermuda, the East Coast from the Carolinas and up through New England, and Atlantic Canada will want to continue to keep tabs on this storm.

Additionally, two more tropical waves are forecast to push to the west across the Atlantic by the end of August. These disturbances are likely to travel a similar path as Erin, putting the Caribbean and the U.S. in the potential danger zone.

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