Hurricane Erin has rapidly intensified into a Category-5 storm with winds reaching 160 mph, posing a threat to the East Coast and surrounding islands. The storm is not expected to make landfall in the United States but will create dangerous surf conditions and rip currents. Waves could exceed 30 feet, and heavy rainfall is anticipated, leading to potential flash flooding. The storm is projected to grow in size, potentially causing further hazards along the Western Atlantic. Precautions are advised for those visiting U.S. Atlantic beaches, as fatalities from rip currents have already occurred.
'Families heading to U.S. Atlantic beaches for a late-summer vacation next week need to be extremely cautious when venturing into the surf,' AccuWeather lead hurricane expert Alex DaSilva warned.
'On the forecast track, the center of Erin is expected to move just north of the northern Leeward Islands, the Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico over the weekend,' the hurricane center said.
'By the middle of next week, Erin is forecast to at least double or triple in size, which will result in rough ocean conditions over the Western Atlantic,' the National Hurricane Center said.
'Locally considerable flash and urban flooding, along with landslides or mudslides, are possible,' according to the NHC.
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