Hurricane Erin Intensifies, Threatens US East Coast with Rip Currents

Miami, Aug 18 (AP) A more potent and expansive Hurricane Erin battered sections of the Caribbean and was predicted to generate hazardous surf conditions and rip currents along the US East Coast this week.

Late Sunday, the storm intensified again, reaching Category 4 strength with maximum sustained winds of 215 kph, while its outer bands impacted the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico, as reported by the US National Hurricane Center in Miami.

Erin was anticipated to bring tropical storm conditions to the Turks and Caicos Islands and the southeastern Bahamas from overnight into Monday.

Further strengthening was expected for Monday, followed by gradual weakening, although Erin was projected to maintain its status as a large, major hurricane into midweek.

Hurricane-force winds were extending up to 95 kilometers from the center, with tropical-storm-force winds reaching outward up to 370 km. The area of strong winds was expected to expand over the coming days. As a result, Erin would impact coastal areas even if no direct landfall occurred.

Dare County, North Carolina, declared a state of emergency and ordered the evacuation of Hatteras Island on the Outer Banks, a narrow strip of low-lying barrier islands extending into the Atlantic, starting Monday.

Several days of heavy surf, along with high winds and waves, posed a risk of washing out portions of N.C. Highway 12, which runs along the barrier islands, according to the National Weather Service.

As of late Sunday, Erin was approximately 205 kilometers east-northeast of Grand Turk Island and about 1,555 kilometers south-southeast of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina. The storm was moving northwest at 19 kph.

Erin, the first Atlantic hurricane of the year, had achieved an extremely dangerous Category 5 status with winds of 260 kph on Saturday before weakening. It was expected to remain a powerful force in the coming days and expand in size.

“You're dealing with a major hurricane. The intensity is fluctuating. It's a dangerous hurricane in any event,” said Richard Pasch of the National Hurricane Center.

On Sunday, Erin's outer bands brought heavy rain and tropical-storm winds to parts of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.

This resulted in power outages for about 147,000 customers, according to Luma Energy, a private company responsible for power transmission and distribution on the island. Additionally, more than 20 flights were canceled due to adverse weather conditions. The Coast Guard permitted the reopening of all ports in Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands on Sunday after winds and rains subsided.

Rough ocean conditions were anticipated for parts of the Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, Hispaniola, and the Turks and Caicos for the next few days. Life-threatening surf and rip currents were expected to continue into midweek for the Bahamas, Bermuda, the US East Coast, and Canada's Atlantic coast as Erin turned north and then northeast.

Scientists have linked the rapid intensification of hurricanes in the Atlantic to climate change. Global warming is leading to increased water vapor in the atmosphere and higher ocean temperatures, with warmer waters providing hurricanes with fuel to unleash more rain and strengthen more rapidly. (AP) GRS GRS

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