Erin adds to concerning trend in Atlantic, all eyes on coast

WILMINGTON, N.C. — Tropical trouble is brewing once again. Hurricane Erin exploded onto the scene in the Atlantic this past weekend, rapidly intensifying from a Category 1 into Category 5 in a mere 24 hours as it skirted north of the Caribbean. Erin is not the strongest nor the largest storm to develop in the Atlantic, but it is part of an alarming trend.

“The average is going up, the intensity is going up,” says Dr. Claudia Benitez-Nelson, a researcher and professor at the University of South Carolina.

“The storms that we’re seeing, they are big. They are really costly.”

Benitez-Nelson says 2024 was the Atlantic’s warmest year on record. The basin has warmed by as much as 2-5° over the past 50 years.

“That doesn’t seem like a lot,” Benitez-Nelson explains, “But from a hurricane perspective, it’s enough to really put a lot more energy into these storms.”

Erin has weakened significantly as it battles dry air and wind shear northeast of the Bahamas, but remains a dangerous – and potentially deadly – storm.

Rough surf and rip currents will pose major threats to beachgoers through Friday as Erin’s eye closes within 250 miles of the Outer Banks Thursday morning. Hatteras Island is under a mandatory evacuation order as a storm surge approaching 2-4 feet may cause major damage to roads and beaches this week.

Davis with the United Cajun Navy says that’s the right call.

“Flooding is particularly dangerous because it can happen so fast,” Davis explains.

And she wants those enjoying the beach this week to stay out of the water.

“So, as fun as it may be, please wait and don’t go,” says Davis.

“There are Olympic swimmers who have been lost to this doing, doing relief. So if an Olympic swimmer can’t make it. Chances are, you may not be able to either.”Over 50 rip current rescues were reported in North Carolina on Monday alone. Davis has recovered the bodies of rip current victims before, and wants to make sure your day at the beach doesn’t turn into a tragedy.

“At the end of the day, your life just isn’t worth the risk,” Davis says.